Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Hawley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hawley has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Plainfield | Castleton | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
4,453Highest |
277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.8±7.2Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±10Lowest 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+ | 29.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$87,500±$26kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Hawley and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$309,600±$38kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Hawley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% 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 | $4,458Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,097 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±12.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Hawley 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 |
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.