Compare towns

Worcester vs Plainfield vs Putney

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 people working from home (23.6%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureWorcesterPlainfieldPutney
People
Population
831Lowest
2,522
2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Worcester 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
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Plainfield 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Plainfield 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield 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 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.