Compare towns
Morgan vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morgan has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Charleston has the most affordable homes ($238k 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.
| Measure | Morgan | Middlesex | Plainfield | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 827Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$25k 12% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
| Middlesex and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,300±$66k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$64 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$979±$444Lowest 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,426Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Morgan 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 | — | Charleston School District |
| High school 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.