Compare towns

Plainfield vs Windham vs Townshend

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).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWindhamTownshend
People
Population
1,314
594Lowest
1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
55.6±9.6Highest
29% 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%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
12%±2.6Lowest
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%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
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%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
Plainfield and Townshend 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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$78,750±$29k
3% 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
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$287,200±$79kLowest
9% 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±$80Lowest
13% 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
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,364
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1
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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.6%
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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 minHighest
14% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7Highest
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 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.