Compare towns

Worcester vs Barnet vs Plainfield vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureWorcesterBarnetPlainfieldWindham
People
Population
831
61Lowest
1,314Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
62.2±45.8Highest
44% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Barnet and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
31.1%±29.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
36.1%±44.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
VT: 43.8%
59.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
0%±23.2Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1
VT: 7%
Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$57,917±$16kLowest
29% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$204,200±$38kLowest
36% below VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
—
$1,153±$103Highest
7% 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
$4,421
12% below VT
$2,950Lowest
41% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
—
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
47.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
—
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
55%±29Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Barnet 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 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.