Compare towns
Castleton vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Jackson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
897Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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 32% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jackson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.