Compare towns

Plainfield vs Strafford vs West Windsor

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 most affordable homes ($318k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldStraffordWest Windsor
People
Population
1,314
1,372Highest
1,171Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Lowest
12% above VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
West Windsor and Strafford 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
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$108,750±$18k
34% above VT
Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$393,500±$41k
24% above VT
Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$1,100±$217Lowest
11% below VT
Plainfield and Strafford 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
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$5,860
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Strafford 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%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Strafford School District Mount Ascutney School District #86
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.