Compare towns
Williston vs Barnard vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Williston | Barnard | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.