Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ira vs Mendon
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 most kids (16.3% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Ira | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
381Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Ira and Mendon 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Mendon 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.