Compare towns
Worcester vs Whitingham 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
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Whitingham | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,368 |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%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% |
2.2%±1.9 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.