Compare towns

Plainfield vs Worcester vs Groton 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 most expensive homes ($318k median).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWorcesterGrotonMarshfield
People
Population
1,314
831Lowest
967
1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
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%
13.3%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Plainfield and Groton 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%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
38.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
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
$77,250±$14kHighest
5% below VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$243,000±$70k
23% below VT
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
Plainfield and Worcester 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
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
$1,317±$126Highest
7% above VT
Marshfield 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
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
$3,668
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%
VT: 10.1%
9.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer 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
30 minHighest
29% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
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 — —
High school 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.