Compare towns
Calais vs Plainfield vs Putney vs Middlesex
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Plainfield | Putney | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,522 |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais 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% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
54.7% 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% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.