Compare towns
Wilmington vs Plainfield vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Fairlee has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Wilmington | Plainfield | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,747Highest |
1,314 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Wilmington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.6%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,000±$23k 14% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
| Fairlee and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$16k 9% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$95 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Plainfield and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 5% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±23Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.