Compare towns
Brandon vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Brandon | Middlesex | Plainfield | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,943 |
2,522 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.8±3.8 25% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leicester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$309,700±$107k 7% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,098±$300 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.