Compare towns

Castleton vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).

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.

MeasureCastletonNewfieldsPlainfield
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,023
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
Plainfield and Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields 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
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Castleton 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Newfields 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.