Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chester vs Westminster vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Chester | Westminster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,992Highest |
497Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Plainfield 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Westminster 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Westminster 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.