Compare towns
Worcester vs Wilder vs Calais vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Wilder | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,087Highest |
1,713 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| 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%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Calais 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Calais 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Calais and Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% 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 | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 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.