Compare towns
Plainfield vs South Burlington 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).
South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).
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 | South Burlington | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
20,756Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.2±1.8Lowest 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% |
19%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| South Burlington 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% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and South Burlington 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 |
$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and South Burlington 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% |
7.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and South Burlington 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 | — | #12 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | South Burlington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | South Burlington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| 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.