Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windsor vs Williston vs Montgomery
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 homeowners (80.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
3,554 |
10,144Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Windsor 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%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Windsor 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% 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% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24k 34% 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 min 3% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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.