Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windsor vs Williston vs Marshfield
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).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Williston | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
3,554 |
10,144Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Williston 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Marshfield 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$60,313±$10k 26% 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$214,100±$37k 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 min 3% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #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 | 12 photos → | 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.