Compare towns
Sheldon vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Irasburg
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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sheldon | Plainfield | Middlesex | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,943 |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 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+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,534±$13k 21% above VT |
| Middlesex and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$230,800±$22kLowest 27% 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 | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,063±$86Lowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None 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.