Compare towns
Norwich vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,314 |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
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 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Norwich 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 | 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.