Compare towns
Williamstown vs Plainfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 |
1,314 |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Washington 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 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Williamstown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Washington 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 |
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.