Compare towns
Williston vs Plainfield vs Fair Haven
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%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Fair Haven 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Plainfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.