Compare towns
Halifax vs Braintree vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Halifax | Braintree | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,026 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Plainfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.