Compare towns
Plainfield vs Townshend vs Windham vs Groton
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Townshend | Windham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,538Highest |
594Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Plainfield 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Windham and Plainfield 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
— | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Plainfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%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 |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.