Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stowe vs Townshend vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Stowe | Townshend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
5,285Highest |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Townshend and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Plainfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.