Compare towns
Hancock vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Middlesex | Plainfield | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school 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.