Compare towns
Northfield vs Calais vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Northfield | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,713 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Calais and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Plainfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.