Compare towns

Plainfield vs Braintree vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldBraintreeSalisbury
People
Population
1,314Highest
1,026Lowest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Lowest
12% above VT
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
50.6±6.5
17% above VT
Braintree and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.2%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±2.9
VT: 21.4%
Braintree and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Plainfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$79,803±$5k
about the VT average
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above VT
Salisbury and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
Plainfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
$840±$405Lowest
32% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
5% below VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
$4,842Highest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.4%±29.4
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81%
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
26 minHighest
11% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
19%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.