Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Barnard vs Marshfield
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Worcester | Barnard | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
831Lowest |
1,211 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Marshfield 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Marshfield 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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 |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Barnard and Marshfield 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Worcester 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.