Compare towns

Plainfield vs Halifax 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 expensive homes ($318k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldHalifaxWorcester
People
Population
1,314Highest
847
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+5.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
40.6±13.1Lowest
6% 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%
25.4%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Halifax 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%
22.6%±7.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Halifax 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%
44.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Plainfield 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
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$267,500±$21kLowest
16% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
Plainfield and Worcester 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
$875±$154Lowest
29% 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
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,991Highest
about the VT average
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
57.1%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Halifax 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%
6%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1968
8 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 minHighest
38% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.9%±11.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
Halifax and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Halifax School District 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

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.