Compare towns
Cavendish 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
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Cavendish | Plainfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,314Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% 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 | 18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Cavendish and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Plainfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.