Compare towns

Plainfield vs Danby vs Worcester vs Guilford

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).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDanbyWorcesterGuilford
People
Population
1,314
1,133
831Lowest
2,461Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
0%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
46.7±5.2Lowest
8% above VT
Danby 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%
14.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Guilford 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%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.6%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Guilford and Danby 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%
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
44.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
Worcester and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$77,321±$13kHighest
5% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$75,243±$6k
7% below VT
Danby and Guilford 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
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$312,600±$39k
about the VT average
Plainfield and Guilford 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
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$1,283±$273Highest
4% above VT
Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,543
10% below VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$5,827Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Guilford 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%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
89.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 minHighest
26% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.7%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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.