Compare towns
Windsor vs Plainfield vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Windsor | Plainfield | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554Highest |
2,522 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.