Compare towns
Plainfield vs Williston vs Sheldon 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Williston | Sheldon | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
10,144Highest |
2,267 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Williston and Sheldon 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 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 |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.