Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield vs Calais vs Westminster
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).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Calais | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,314 |
1,713Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% 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 | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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 | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.