Compare towns
Castleton vs Newfields vs Plainfield vs Poultney
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Newfields | Plainfield | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,023 |
1,314Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below 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% |
17.8%±3.8 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest 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% |
9.3%±2.3 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. |
$72,617±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% 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. |
$3,520 13% 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% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest 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. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above 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% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Newfields School District | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.