Compare towns

Marshfield vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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.

MeasureMarshfieldPlainfieldSheffield
People
Population
470Lowest
1,314Highest
573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.6%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
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
Plainfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±9.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Sheffield 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%
19.2%±4
VT: 21.4%
Plainfield and Sheffield 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%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%
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,375±$20kHighest
4% above VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Marshfield and Plainfield 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
$967±$79Lowest
22% below VT
Plainfield and Marshfield 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
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1955
21 yrs older 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
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
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 — — Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.