Compare towns
Strafford vs Calais vs Plainfield vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k 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 | Strafford | Calais | Plainfield | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,713Highest |
1,314 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% 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 | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.