Compare towns
Guilford vs Williston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most affordable homes ($313k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Guilford | Williston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461 |
10,144Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Guilford 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.