Compare towns
Castleton vs Jericho vs Plainfield vs Northfield
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).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Jericho | Plainfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,114 |
2,522Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Jericho and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Jericho 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. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Jericho and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Jericho 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 |
$7,318 135% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Plainfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.