Compare towns
Chittenden vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Chittenden | Plainfield | Worcester | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Chittenden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | 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.