Compare towns
Marshfield vs Jay vs Plainfield vs Burke
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Burke has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Jay | Plainfield | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
471Lowest |
1,314 |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Burke 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Burke 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Burke 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 |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% 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 | $3,668 27% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Plainfield 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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.