Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Bennington vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Middlesex | Bennington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,943 |
15,249Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bennington 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Bennington 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.