Compare towns
Worcester vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Middlesex
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).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,314 |
2,267Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.