Compare towns
Castleton vs Newark vs Plainfield vs Sutton
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Newark | Plainfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
727Lowest |
1,314 |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton 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% VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Newark 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 |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 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% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.