Compare towns
Worcester vs Bennington vs Putney vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Bennington | Putney | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,622 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Bennington 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% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.