Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Stowe vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314 |
5,285Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% 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 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.