Compare towns
Meredith vs Williston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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.
| Measure | Meredith | Williston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
10,144Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 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 | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% 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 | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% 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 | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Williston 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.