Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Marshfield 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Worcester has the highest household income ($74k).
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 | Marshfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,466 |
1,863Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% 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 |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%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% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Marshfield 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 |
$60,313±$10k 26% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 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±$103 7% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Marshfield 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% 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% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% 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 |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.