Compare towns
Worcester vs Benson 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%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Benson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
784Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Plainfield 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Worcester 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 |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Benson 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 |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Benson 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Benson 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.