Compare towns
Marlboro vs Plainfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,362Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 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+ | 53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Marlboro and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Marlboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Marlboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlboro 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 |
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.