Compare towns
Plainfield vs Shelburne 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).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Shelburne | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,969Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Shelburne 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.