Compare towns
Marshfield vs Plainfield vs Middlesex
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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
1,314Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above 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 |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.