Compare towns

Marshfield vs Dover 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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($69k).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldDoverPlainfield
People
Population
1,863Highest
1,466
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
Dover and Plainfield 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%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Plainfield 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%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Marshfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,313±$10k
26% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$69,250±$31kHighest
15% below VT
Plainfield and Marshfield 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
$332,900±$55kHighest
5% above VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$126Highest
7% above VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below 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
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.7%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
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%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
23% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
24.5%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Marshfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
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.