Compare towns
Ludlow vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Ludlow | Plainfield | Worcester | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,314Highest |
831 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Ludlow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% 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 | $4,237 16% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.