Compare towns
Plainfield vs Mount Tabor vs Castleton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Mount Tabor | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
304Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Brookfield 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest 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 |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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.