Compare towns
Plainfield vs Mendon 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 most renters (19.1% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,113Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.