Compare towns
Plainfield vs Berlin vs Dummerston vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Plainfield | Berlin | Dummerston | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
2,880Highest |
2,090 |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Dummerston and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 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 | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.