Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stratton vs Dover 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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Stratton | Dover | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
532Lowest |
1,466Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Worcester 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Stratton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.