Compare towns
Stratton vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k 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 | Stratton | Plainfield | Middlesex | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,314 |
1,943Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% 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 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 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+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.