Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putney vs Windham vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($80k 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 | Plainfield | Putney | Windham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,016 |
2,622Highest |
1,432 |
543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
33.1±6.8Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$35,694±$8kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Putney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$80,000±$43kLowest 76% below U.S. |
| Windham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$850±$295Highest 40% below U.S. |
$735±$16 48% below U.S. |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667 14% below U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,363 8% above U.S. |
$2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.1%±38.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
28.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.