Compare towns
Plainfield vs Elmore vs Castleton 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 population (median age 48.1).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Elmore | Castleton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
964 |
4,453Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Elmore and Castleton 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 |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Elmore 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 |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.