Compare towns
Plainfield vs Worcester vs Waterbury
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 most affordable homes ($271k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
831Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterbury 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 |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,027±$535 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Waterbury 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Worcester 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.