Compare towns
Guilford vs Middlesex vs Calais vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most affordable homes ($313k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Guilford | Middlesex | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827 16% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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 | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.