Compare towns
Castleton vs Durham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,080Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.