Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Stowe vs Townshend
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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Stowe | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,314 |
5,285Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Plainfield 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Plainfield and Stowe 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±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Stowe Town School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | Stowe High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.