Compare towns

Plainfield vs Williston vs Lebanon

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 most homeowners (87.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWillistonLebanon
People
Population
2,522Lowest
10,144
14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
38.9±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
Williston and Plainfield 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%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
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+
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lebanon 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon 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.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$98,147±$10kLowest
22% 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.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$385,400±$29kLowest
16% 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.
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
Williston and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904
153% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$8,149Highest
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Lebanon 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon 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 #19 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT #29 of 120 in NH
School district Plainfield School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Lebanon School District
High school in town None in town None in town Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7
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.