Compare towns
Plainfield vs Highgate 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%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k 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 | Highgate | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
| Highgate 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Highgate 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. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$981±$75Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Highgate 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. |
$3,558Highest 14% above U.S. |
$3,197 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.