Compare towns
Dummerston vs Halifax vs Plainfield vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Dummerston | Halifax | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
847Lowest |
1,314 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% 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 | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District | — | 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 History | 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.