Compare towns
Eden vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eden 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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Eden | Plainfield | Worcester | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,351Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.7±1.9 13% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±3.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,578±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Eden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,900±$27k 32% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% 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 | $1,300±$441Highest 5% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
| Eden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,313 34% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±39 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 63% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lowell School District |
| 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.