Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Highgate 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 most kids (16.3% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Dover | Highgate | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,466 |
3,528Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Highgate 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Highgate 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$895±$691 27% 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.