Compare towns
Jay vs Plainfield vs Proctor vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Jay | Plainfield | Proctor | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,314 |
1,794Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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 | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.