Compare towns
Marlboro vs Plainfield vs Dummerston vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Plainfield | Dummerston | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362 |
1,314 |
2,090Highest |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Dummerston and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Marlboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Marlboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Marlboro School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None 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.