Compare towns
Marshfield vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Peacham
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863 |
1,943Highest |
1,314 |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Peacham 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Peacham School District |
| 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.