Compare towns

Plainfield vs Williston vs Brookfield

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 youngest population (median age 34.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWillistonBrookfield
People
Population
1,016Lowest
10,144Highest
2,150
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
41.2±6.1
6% above U.S.
Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookfield and Williston 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%
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Williston 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.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$69,205±$9kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$155,100±$17k
53% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$152,800±$28kLowest
54% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$750±$207Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$981±$75
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$3,197
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.6%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
51.4%±35.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Williston 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.1Lowest
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 — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
High school in town — None in town —
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.