Compare towns
Marshfield vs Reading 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 affordable homes ($214k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
699Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% 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 | $3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.