Compare towns
White River Junction vs Plainfield vs Williston vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | White River Junction | Plainfield | Williston | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
2,522Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.