Compare towns

Calais vs Plainfield vs Putney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).

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.

MeasureCalaisPlainfieldPutney
People
Population
1,713Lowest
2,522
2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Highest
8% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Plainfield 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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

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.