Compare towns
Worcester vs Pittsfield 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Pittsfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
391Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Pittsfield 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% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Pittsfield 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% 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 |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Pittsfield 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 |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Pittsfield 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 |
$5,181Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Pittsfield 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Worcester 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.