Compare towns

Plainfield vs Worcester vs Dummerston 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 renters (19.1% rent).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldWorcesterDummerstonGroton
People
Population
1,314
831Lowest
2,090Highest
967
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
45.7±5.8
6% 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston 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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
Dummerston 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±$34k
about the VT average
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$243,000±$70kLowest
23% below VT
Dummerston 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±$136
17% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$4,536
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%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1971
5 yrs older 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
11% below VT
30 minHighest
29% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
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.