Compare towns

Plainfield vs Williston vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWillistonWindham
People
Population
1,314Lowest
10,144
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Windham 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
14% below U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Windham 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 #95 of 133 in ME
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 RSU 14
High school in town — None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.