Compare towns
Worcester vs Essex 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).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Essex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
11,516Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Essex 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 |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Essex 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.