Compare towns
Calais vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Worcester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| 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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais 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%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 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±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.