Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Dover 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 the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Dover | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
831Lowest |
1,466Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±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±$31k 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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 |
$4,510 10% 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% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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.