Compare towns
Richmond vs Calais vs Plainfield vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Richmond | Calais | Plainfield | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
1,713 |
1,314Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| Richmond and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
| Richmond and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.