Compare towns
Royalton vs Castleton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Royalton | Castleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752 |
4,453Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Royalton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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 | 13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.