Compare towns
Plainfield vs Williston vs Ira 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Williston | Ira | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
10,144Highest |
381Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 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 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.