Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Bridgewater
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 (11.5%).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($80k median).
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 | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016 |
4,453Highest |
543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3Highest about the U.S. average |
33.1±6.8Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$35,694±$8kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$80,000±$43kLowest 76% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$735±$16Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667 14% below U.S. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.1%±38.6Lowest 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 | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
28.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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.