Compare towns
Worcester vs Stratton 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Stratton | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
532Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest 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% |
33.2%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% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Middlesex 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% 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% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 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.