Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Jay vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314 |
471Lowest |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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 |
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.