Compare towns
Ira vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ira | Plainfield | Worcester | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,314 |
831 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 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 | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% 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 | $4,146 18% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 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 | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.