Compare towns
Williston vs Plainfield vs Stowe
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 the most renters (24.9% rent).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Stowe 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%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest 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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Williston 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. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above 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 | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Plainfield School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.