Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Poultney
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Windham | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,314Lowest |
16,038Highest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Windham 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$72,617±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.