Compare towns
Worcester vs Ryegate vs Middlesex vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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.
| Measure | Worcester | Ryegate | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,059 |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Middlesex 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% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| 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±$136 17% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.