Compare towns

Marshfield vs Sheldon 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 people working from home (24.5%).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldSheldonPlainfield
People
Population
1,863
2,267Highest
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
Plainfield and Sheldon 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%
23.7%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
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%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
Marshfield and Plainfield 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
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
Sheldon 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
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
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
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
$1,153±$103Lowest
7% 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.7%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
23% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
24.5%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
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 —
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.