Compare towns

Plainfield vs Whitingham 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%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldWhitinghamBrookfield
People
Population
1,314Lowest
1,368
1,486Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
46.4±7.1Lowest
8% above 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%
19.8%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
Whitingham and Brookfield 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%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham 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%
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Brookfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
Brookfield and Whitingham 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
$262,300±$30kLowest
17% 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±$103Highest
7% below VT
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$975±$306
21% below VT
Plainfield and Brookfield 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
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Whitingham 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%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
38 minHighest
62% above VT
37 min
55% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
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
School district — Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town — Twin Valley Middle High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.