Compare towns
Castleton vs Wolfeboro vs Plainfield
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).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (80.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
6,571Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Plainfield 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Castleton 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% 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 |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.