Compare towns
Worcester vs Putney vs Plainfield vs Montgomery
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Putney | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,314 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$868±$209 30% 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.