Compare towns
Castleton vs Mendon 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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.