Compare towns
Calais vs Plainfield vs Richmond vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 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 | Calais | Plainfield | Richmond | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,314Lowest |
4,159Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Richmond and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Richmond and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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 | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 | 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.