Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Putney has the highest household income ($80k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Putney | Castleton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,622 |
4,453Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Plainfield 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr 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 |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.