Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Dover
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Castleton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.