Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Orange | Plainfield | Worcester | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
1,314Highest |
831Lowest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Worcester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Orange and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None 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.