Compare towns
Plainfield vs Calais vs Townshend
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 the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Calais and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% 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 | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.