Compare towns
Marshfield vs Dummerston 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
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Marshfield | Dummerston | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863 |
2,090Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above 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 | 24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above 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 | $214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above 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 | $1,317±$126 7% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 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 | $3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Marshfield 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 |
| High school 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.