Compare towns

Grantham vs Plainfield vs Springfield 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

Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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.

MeasureGranthamPlainfieldSpringfieldWilliston
People
Population
3,465
2,522
1,122Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±7.5
30% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
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+
17%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
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+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,403±$54k
32% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$343,100±$39kLowest
3% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% 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 —
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below 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
$7,605
144% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
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
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
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 #6 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Grantham School District 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 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.