Compare towns
Monkton vs Plainfield vs Starksboro vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Monkton | Plainfield | Starksboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,999Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,939 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Plainfield and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,887 17% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.