Compare towns
Sandgate vs Plainfield vs Wheelock vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ira has the highest household income ($72k).
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 | Sandgate | Plainfield | Wheelock | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
1,314Highest |
717 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ira 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 |
— | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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 | 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.