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 (+0.8%).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
41.2±6.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Castleton 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Brookfield 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% |
16.8%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% 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. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% 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±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$981±$75 31% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,197Highest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Brookfield 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% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.