Compare towns
Marshfield vs Stratton 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).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Stratton | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
532Lowest |
1,314 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Plainfield 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Stratton and Calais 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% 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 |
$4,750 6% 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% |
12%±69.8Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — | — | — | 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.