Compare towns

Plainfield vs Worcester vs Bakersfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWorcesterBakersfield
People
Population
1,314Highest
831Lowest
1,109
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
46.4±8Lowest
8% 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%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
Plainfield and Bakersfield 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bakersfield 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield 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
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
Bakersfield 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$271,300±$19k
14% below VT
Plainfield and Bakersfield 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
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
Bakersfield 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
$4,421
12% below VT
$3,823Lowest
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Worcester 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%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 min
22% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.