Compare towns
Plainfield vs Braintree vs Mendon 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Mendon | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,026Lowest |
1,113 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Braintree and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Mendon 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Mendon and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | — |
| High school 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.