Compare towns
Williston vs Mendon 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%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Plainfield 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.