Compare towns
Plainfield vs Elmore 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).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Elmore | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
964Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Elmore 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest 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% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 25% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.


