Compare towns
Worcester vs Barre vs Dummerston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Worcester | Barre | Dummerston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
8,412Highest |
2,090 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Barre 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 |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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 |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.