Compare towns

Worcester vs Plainfield vs Wheelock

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%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).

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.

MeasureWorcesterPlainfieldWheelock
People
Population
831
1,314Highest
717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
9% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
Wheelock 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%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wheelock and Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
Worcester and Wheelock 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
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% 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±$27k
14% below VT
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
Plainfield and Worcester 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±$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
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Wheelock 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.