Compare towns
Plainfield vs Calais vs Chester
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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Calais | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,713 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% 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 | $4,806 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.