Compare towns
Marshfield vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Marshfield | Plainfield | Middlesex | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
1,314 |
1,943Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269 35% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.