Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Randolph 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Randolph | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,943 |
4,843Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Randolph 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.