Compare towns

Worcester vs Hyde Park 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Hyde Park has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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.

MeasureWorcesterHyde ParkPlainfield
People
Population
831Lowest
3,000Highest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
41.6±3.9Lowest
3% below VT
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%
20%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Hyde Park and Plainfield 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%
18.7%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.4
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Hyde Park 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
$84,375±$9kHighest
4% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
Hyde Park 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
14% below VT
$198,400±$39kLowest
37% below VT
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
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±$136
17% below VT
$1,007±$340Lowest
18% below VT
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
Plainfield and Worcester 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
$3,883Lowest
23% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
38.8%±14.6
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Hyde Park 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%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.3%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
26 min
12% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
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 — #59 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A —
High school in town None in town Lamoille Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
—
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.