Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Plainfield vs Williston vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Fair Haven | Plainfield | Williston | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
1,314 |
10,144Highest |
1,145Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Plainfield 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.