Compare towns
Belvidere vs Plainfield vs Bakersfield vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k 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 | Belvidere | Plainfield | Bakersfield | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
1,314Highest |
1,109 |
470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bakersfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
| Marshfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
| Plainfield and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
| Belvidere and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 40% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school 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.