Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Castleton | Middlesex | Plainfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,943 |
1,314 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 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 | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school 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.