Compare towns
Brookfield vs Calais vs Worcester vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Calais | Worcester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,713Highest |
831Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.