Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putney vs Williston 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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Williston and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 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.