Compare towns
Calais vs Strafford vs Marshfield
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Strafford | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,372Lowest |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Calais and Marshfield 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.