Compare towns
Stowe vs Windham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Stowe | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Plainfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.