Compare towns
Calais vs Plainfield vs Richmond vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Calais | Plainfield | Richmond | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,314 |
4,159Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest 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 |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 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 | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Richmond 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 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below 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±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 | $6,586 31% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 min 22% above 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% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | 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.