Compare towns
Castleton vs Plainfield vs Wheelock 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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Plainfield | Wheelock | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,314 |
717Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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 |
$1,153±$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 | $3,167 37% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Wheelock 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.