Compare towns

Fairlee vs Plainfield vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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.

MeasureFairleePlainfieldWindsor
People
Population
1,066Lowest
2,522
3,554Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
Fairlee and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10k
7% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617
80% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,209Lowest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Fairlee 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 #61 of 70 in VT
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Plainfield School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.