Compare towns
Ira vs Mendon vs Plainfield vs Westmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Ira | Mendon | Plainfield | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,113 |
1,314Highest |
465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
| Ira and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$87,188±$11k 7% above VT |
| Mendon and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$330,000±$137k 4% above VT |
| Mendon and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,050±$820 15% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.