Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Plainfield | Springfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,314Lowest |
9,084Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Springfield High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.