Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Lyndeborough 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,616 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Lyndeborough 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.