Compare towns

Plainfield vs Worcester vs Marshfield vs Montgomery

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 highest household income ($74k).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWorcesterMarshfieldMontgomery
People
Population
1,314
831Lowest
1,863Highest
1,047
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
Montgomery 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%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.5%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
Worcester and Montgomery 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±$18kHighest
9% below VT
$60,313±$10k
26% below VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
Worcester and Plainfield 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
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
$323,200±$45kHighest
about the VT average
Montgomery 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
$1,317±$126Highest
7% above VT
$868±$209Lowest
30% below 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
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
$4,326
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
65.7%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.2%
VT: 10.1%
15.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 min
22% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
24.5%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9Lowest
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 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.