Compare towns

Hampton vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Martinsburg

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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Martinsburg has the highest household income ($85k).

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.

MeasureHamptonCastletonPlainfieldMartinsburg
People
Population
1,145Lowest
4,453Highest
1,314
1,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
44.4±5.7
14% above U.S.
Plainfield and Martinsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
21%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Martinsburg and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Martinsburg and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$85,313±$9kHighest
6% above U.S.
Martinsburg and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10k
50% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$318,400±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
$162,200±$27kLowest
51% below U.S.
Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$772±$453Lowest
45% below U.S.
Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007
4% below U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
$2,567Lowest
18% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.9%±31.5
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
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
27% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
16 minLowest
38% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Martinsburg 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 — —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
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.