Compare towns
Halifax vs Marshfield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Halifax | Marshfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,863Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Marshfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.