Compare towns
Washington vs Plainfield vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Washington | Plainfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
1,016Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Williamstown 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.