Compare towns

Castleton vs Plainfield vs Putney

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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).

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.

MeasureCastletonPlainfieldPutney
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,522Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
38.9±6.5Highest
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Plainfield and Castleton 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Putney 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 #19 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Plainfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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

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.