Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chester vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Chester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,992Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
| Brookline 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brookline 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.