Compare towns
Williston vs White River Junction 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%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (80.9%).
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 | White River Junction | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,364 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| 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±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — | — |
| 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.