Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Middlebury 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ripton | Middlebury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
7,220Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlebury 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Middlebury and Plainfield 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlebury 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Middlebury 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.