Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barnet vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Plainfield | Barnet | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,855Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.