Compare towns
Montgomery vs Ryegate vs Worcester vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Montgomery | Ryegate | Worcester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
1,059 |
831Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% 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 | $323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% 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 | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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.