Compare towns
Dover vs Mendon 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%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Mendon | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,113 |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 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+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Mendon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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 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.