Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro vs Shaftsbury
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 housing (typical home built 1955).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Wolfeboro | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,314Lowest |
6,571Highest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% 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% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Shaftsbury 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,015 29% 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% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.