Compare towns

Castleton vs Ossipee 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).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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.

MeasureCastletonOssipeePlainfield
People
Population
4,453
4,521Highest
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
50±4.6Highest
29% above U.S.
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Ossipee 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%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ossipee 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%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$90,521±$22kHighest
12% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Ossipee 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
32% below U.S.
$325,500±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Ossipee 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
20% below U.S.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,401
41% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Ossipee 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%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #100 of 120 in NH —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Governor Wentworth Regional 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.