Compare towns

Plainfield vs Wilder vs Brattleboro

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 highest household income ($123k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWilderBrattleboro
People
Population
2,522Lowest
3,087
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brattleboro and Wilder 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%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Brattleboro 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%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$75,143±$9k
7% below U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
Plainfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$5,700
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brattleboro and Wilder 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%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Brattleboro 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 — #33 of 70 in VT
School district Plainfield School District — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town — Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.