Compare towns
Marshfield vs Townshend 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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Townshend | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
1,538 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.