Compare towns
Marshfield vs Brookline vs Plainfield
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 most affordable homes ($214k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookline | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
531Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126 7% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest 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 | 9.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.