Compare towns
Plainfield vs Westminster 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
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Westminster | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
35.8±4.2 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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. |
$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$44,850±$12kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$89,900±$7kLowest 73% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$916±$126Highest 35% below U.S. |
$736±$20Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$4,063Highest 30% above U.S. |
$2,546Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.8%±28.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.