Compare towns
Windham vs Williston vs Plainfield 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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Williston | Plainfield | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,314 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 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 | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Williston 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.