Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putney vs Windham 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Putney | Windham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,432 |
2,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney 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. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Putney and Windham 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Windham and Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$850±$295 40% below U.S. |
$981±$75Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Windham 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,363 8% 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% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.