Compare towns
Bolton vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Bolton | Plainfield | Worcester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163 |
1,314Highest |
831Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.