Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Williston vs Brookfield
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Brookfield 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Williston 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 about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.