Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jay vs Calais 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Jay | Calais | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
471Lowest |
1,713 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Marshfield 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Calais and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Calais and Marshfield 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,668 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 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.