Compare towns
Plainfield vs Williston vs Mendon
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
10,144Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 |
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.