Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Montpelier
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 homeowners (96.7%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Windham | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,522 |
594Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montpelier and Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest 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. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,302±$113Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montpelier and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | — | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.