Compare towns
Marshfield vs Plainfield vs Proctor 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Proctor | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,794 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Proctor 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Proctor 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$37k 32% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126 7% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% 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 | $3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.