Compare towns
Bolton 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
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
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 | Bolton | Plainfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
2,522 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | $111,125±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 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 | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| 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 | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.