Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Tunbridge vs Northfield
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 the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% 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.
| Measure | Castleton | Plainfield | Tunbridge | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,522 |
1,253Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
42.7±8.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge 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% |
21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Tunbridge 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% |
20.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Tunbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest 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% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Tunbridge 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±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23k 5% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,645 49% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge and Plainfield 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 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.