Compare towns
Plainfield vs Strafford vs Franklin 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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Strafford | Franklin | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,372 |
1,590Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Worcester 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Franklin 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Franklin 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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 | 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.