Compare towns
Benson vs Brookfield 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
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Benson | Brookfield | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,314 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Benson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.