Compare towns
Ashland vs Jericho vs Plainfield vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Ashland | Jericho | Plainfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
5,114 |
2,522 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,318 135% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ashland School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Plainfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.