Compare towns
Plainfield vs Arlington vs Worcester vs Montgomery
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Plainfield | Arlington | Worcester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,598Highest |
831Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% 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 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Arlington and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Arlington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Worcester 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Arlington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.