Compare towns

Plainfield vs Elmore vs Castleton

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 most people working from home (16.4%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldElmoreCastleton
People
Population
1,314
964Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
45±3.5
4% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
Plainfield and Elmore 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%
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
Elmore and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Plainfield and Castleton 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%
47.8%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$98,750±$24kHighest
22% above VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
Elmore 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$315,800±$47k
about the VT average
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
Plainfield and Elmore 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
$1,225±$263Highest
about the VT average
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
Elmore 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
$5,066Highest
about the VT average
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.8%±65.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9
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%
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
29 minHighest
25% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Plainfield and Elmore 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 — Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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.