Compare towns
Worcester vs Jay vs Putney vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Jay | Putney | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
471Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Putney and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.