Compare towns

Montgomery vs Underhill 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).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureMontgomeryUnderhillWorcesterPlainfield
People
Population
1,047
3,141Highest
831Lowest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% 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%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Underhill 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%
17.6%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%
VT: 43.8%
50.1%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Underhill 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
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
Underhill and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,200±$45k
about the VT average
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$209Lowest
30% 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
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
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%
6.4%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
79.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
58% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
16%±5.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #2 of 70 in VT — —
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
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.