Compare towns
Marshfield vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Wolcott
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 people working from home (24.5%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% 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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863 |
1,314Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Wolcott 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Sheldon 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wolcott 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Marshfield and Sheldon 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wolcott 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.