Compare towns
Worcester vs Wardsboro vs Plainfield vs Elmore
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%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Wardsboro | Plainfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
820Lowest |
1,314Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Wardsboro 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% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Elmore 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Elmore 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 |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None 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.