Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Stowe
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 population (median age 48.1).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
4,453 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Plainfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Castleton 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Castleton 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.