Compare towns

Hartland vs Plainfield 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

Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureHartlandPlainfieldWilliston
People
Population
3,460
2,522Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±5.1Highest
43% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
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+
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartland and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,136±$23kLowest
7% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% 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
$348,600±$39kLowest
5% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% 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±$181Lowest
18% above 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
$6,437
106% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.1%±89.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
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
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
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 #29 of 70 in VT #19 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT
School district Hartland 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

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.