Compare towns
Hampton vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Hampton | Plainfield | Middlesex | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
1,314 |
1,943 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.