Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
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%).
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Plainfield | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.9±5.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton 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. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| 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.