Compare towns

Plainfield vs Castleton vs Brookfield

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldCastletonBrookfield
People
Population
2,522
4,453Highest
1,486Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
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+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$98,500±$23k
22% 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
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,560
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
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
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
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 #19 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT —
School district Plainfield School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town None 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.