Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bellows Falls 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Worcester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,891Highest |
831Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% 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% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Worcester 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 |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Bellows Falls 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 |
$4,448 12% 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% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest 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 | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 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 14% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.