Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bellows Falls vs Williston vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Grantham has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Plainfield | Bellows Falls | Williston | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
2,891 |
10,144Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 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 | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% 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. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% 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 | $7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Williston and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Grantham School District |
| 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.