Compare towns
Plainfield vs Calais vs Williston vs Marshfield
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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Williston | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,713 |
10,144Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston 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±$27k 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Williston and Calais 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±$36k 23% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Williston and Calais 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.