Compare towns
Castleton vs Ferrisburgh vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ferrisburgh has the highest household income ($107k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,661 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Plainfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Ferrisburgh 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 | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.