Compare towns
Ira vs Plainfield vs Calais vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Ira | Plainfield | Calais | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,314 |
1,713Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Calais and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — |
| High school 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.