Compare towns
Plainfield vs Newfane vs Fairlee 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Newfane | Fairlee | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,456 |
1,066Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookfield 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Fairlee 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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 |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 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 |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.