Compare towns
Andover vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Andover | Castleton | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Worcester 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.