Compare towns
Plainfield vs Poultney 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%).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
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 | Poultney | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
1,033 |
2,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
41.2±6.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney 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% |
38.4%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% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Poultney 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±$6kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$70,536±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Poultney 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. |
$196,600±$43kHighest 41% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Poultney 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. |
$868±$113 39% below U.S. |
$981±$75Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Poultney 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. |
$3,450Highest 11% 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% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.