Compare towns
Windsor 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
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Windsor | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103 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 | $5,209 3% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest 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 | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 3% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Plainfield 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 | #61 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 History | 6 photos → | 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.