Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Whitingham vs Montpelier
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 highest household income ($110k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Whitingham | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
1,368 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.