Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Calais vs Montgomery
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Springfield | Calais | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
9,084Highest |
1,713 |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Montgomery 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Calais and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.