Compare towns
Worcester vs Dummerston vs Braintree vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Dummerston | Braintree | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,026 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Dummerston and Braintree 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| 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.