Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairlee 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Castleton | Fairlee | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,066 |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | 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.