Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairlee vs Plainfield vs Stowe
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%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Fairlee | Plainfield | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
54Lowest |
1,314 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 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 |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,057±$620 14% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| 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 12% below VT |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
— | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school 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 |
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.