Compare towns
Worcester vs Townshend vs Ripton 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Townshend | Ripton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,538Highest |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Townshend and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.