Compare towns
Highgate 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
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Highgate | Plainfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,314 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest 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 | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.