Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Berlin vs Groton
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%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Berlin | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
831Lowest |
2,880Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Berlin 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton 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 |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Groton 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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±$136 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Berlin 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 |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.