Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sheldon 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
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Sheldon | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
14.7%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% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,578 29% below 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%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.