Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Swanton
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 the most people working from home (16.4%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Swanton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.