Compare towns
Marshfield vs Plainfield vs Reading 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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Reading | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
1,314 |
699Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Reading and Plainfield 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% |
18.5%±4.2 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46% 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% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% 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 |
$5,754 14% above 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% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 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 | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.