Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stratton vs Calais vs Worcester
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).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Stratton | Calais | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
532Lowest |
1,713Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Calais 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Calais 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | 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.