Compare towns
Worcester vs Hinesburg vs Plainfield vs Middlesex
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).
Hinesburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Hinesburg | Plainfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,718Highest |
1,314 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Hinesburg 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% |
18%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Hinesburg 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% |
25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Hinesburg and Plainfield 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% |
64.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Middlesex 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 |
$463,400±$51kHighest 46% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hinesburg 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% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #4 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Champlain Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.