Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Springfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.