Compare towns
Orwell vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Orwell | Plainfield | Worcester | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,314Highest |
831Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Orwell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Plainfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.