Compare towns
Worcester vs Williston vs Hinesburg 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hinesburg has the highest household income ($113k).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Williston | Hinesburg | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,718 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Hinesburg 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hinesburg 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
64.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Hinesburg and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$463,400±$51k 46% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,651±$155 34% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Williston and Hinesburg 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hinesburg 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #4 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Champlain Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.5 |
— |
| 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.