Compare towns
Worcester vs Hampton vs Castleton 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,145 |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Castleton 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±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.