Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairfax vs Jericho 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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
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 | Fairfax | Jericho | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
5,226Highest |
5,114 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Jericho 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Jericho 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% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Fairfax and Jericho 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 |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Plainfield 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| 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.