Compare towns

Worcester vs Newfields vs Plainfield vs Stowe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterNewfieldsPlainfieldStowe
People
Population
831Lowest
2,023
1,314
5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
46.3±7.6
19% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Worcester 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 U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
Stowe and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
Newfields and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$7,161
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Stowe 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 Newfields School District — Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town None in town — Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.