Compare towns

Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Ferrisburgh vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Ferrisburgh has the most renters (14.7% rent).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexPlainfieldFerrisburghDummerston
People
Population
1,943Lowest
2,522
2,661Highest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.5±4.9
17% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
Dummerston and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$106,989±$22k
33% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$422,700±$35k
27% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,435±$173
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$6,120
96% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±19.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ferrisburgh and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #7 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield School District Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.