Compare towns
Hartland vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Hartland | Castleton | Brookfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
4,453Highest |
1,486Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Hartland and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,437 106% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartland School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.