Compare towns
Worcester vs Kirby 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Worcester | Kirby | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
756Lowest |
1,314 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest 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+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
32.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,250±$326 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest 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 | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.