Compare towns
Marshfield vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
7,220Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlebury 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$86,250±$18kHighest 6% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Marshfield and Middlebury 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 |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.