Compare towns
Worcester vs Colrain vs Stowe vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Colrain | Stowe | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,627 |
5,285Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Colrain 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 U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | Mohawk Trail | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.