Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Strafford
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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,314 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$12k 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Windham 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±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District |
| 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.