Compare towns

Plainfield vs Randolph 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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldRandolphCalais
People
Population
1,314Lowest
4,843Highest
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
40.4±7.4Lowest
6% below VT
42±8.6
about the VT average
Plainfield and Calais 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%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Randolph 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%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Calais 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%
40.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4
VT: 7%
Randolph and Calais 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
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
Calais and Randolph 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
$278,700±$38kLowest
12% below VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103Lowest
7% below VT
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
Calais and Randolph 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
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Randolph 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%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
21 minLowest
12% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #55 of 70 in VT —
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.4
—
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.