Compare towns
Williston vs Plainfield vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Plainfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,522 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% 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 | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% 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 | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District |
| 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 |
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.