Compare towns

Windham 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

Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.

MeasureWindhamPlainfieldFair Haven
People
Population
594Lowest
1,314
2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Fair Haven and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
4.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Fair Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,806
5% below VT
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
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
9.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 — — #66 of 70 in VT
School district — — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — — Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
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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.