Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
831Lowest |
5,920Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 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% |
34.6%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% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Groton 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 |
$71,768±$13k 12% 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% 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 | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% 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% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.