Compare towns
Plainfield vs Highgate vs Ira vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k 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 | Plainfield | Highgate | Ira | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
3,528Highest |
381Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Ira and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.