Compare towns

Worcester vs Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterMontgomeryPlainfield
People
Population
831Lowest
1,047
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
9% above VT
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
Montgomery 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%
15.5%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Plainfield and Montgomery 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%
33.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
52.8%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
Worcester and Plainfield 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
$323,200±$45kHighest
about the VT average
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
Montgomery and Plainfield 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
$868±$209Lowest
30% 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
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
Montgomery and Plainfield 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%
15.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
22% above VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9Lowest
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.