Compare towns
Plainfield vs Williston vs Fair Haven
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 population (median age 48.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Williston | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Plainfield 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.