Compare towns
Worcester vs Ira vs Plainfield vs Elmore
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%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Ira | Plainfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
381Lowest |
1,314Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Elmore 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore 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 |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | — | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.