Compare towns
Elmore vs Hardwick vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Elmore | Hardwick | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,314 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Elmore and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.