Compare towns

Putney vs Castleton vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

MeasurePutneyCastletonPlainfield
People
Population
2,622
4,453Highest
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
38.9±6.5Highest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT #39 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Plainfield School District
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

U.S. 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.