Compare towns
Jay vs Plainfield vs Wheelock 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).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Wheelock | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,314Highest |
717 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Jay and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%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% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Wheelock 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±$31k 15% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Jay and Worcester 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 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 | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% 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% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 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 | — | — | 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.