Compare towns
Dover vs Groton 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Dover | Groton | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
967 |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49 46% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.