Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Dover | Plainfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,314Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.