Compare towns
Worcester vs Castleton vs Tunbridge 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 homeowners (85.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Castleton | Tunbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,253 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±8.3 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Tunbridge 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Tunbridge 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Plainfield 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Plainfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.