Compare towns
Williamstown vs Plainfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Williamstown | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,016Lowest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5 8% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 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+ | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Highest 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+ | 17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest 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 | $94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37k 35% 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 | $1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest 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 | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest 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 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| 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.