Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Hardwick | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
2,965Highest |
2,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Brookfield 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% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$184,700±$39kHighest 44% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$981±$75Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hardwick 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. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,197 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.