Compare towns
Worcester vs Windsor vs Putney 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Windsor | Putney | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,554Highest |
2,622 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Plainfield 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Putney 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±$27k 14% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.