Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Plainfield vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Wardsboro | Plainfield | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
1,314Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Plainfield and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.