Compare towns
Richmond vs Plainfield vs Calais
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 expensive homes ($432k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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.
| Measure | Richmond | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Richmond 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest 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+ | 59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Richmond 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Richmond and Calais 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 |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Richmond and Calais 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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 | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.