Compare towns
Highgate vs Plainfield vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Highgate | Plainfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,522Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Plainfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.