Compare towns
Worcester vs Brookline vs Westminster 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookline | Westminster | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
531 |
497Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.