Compare towns

Plainfield vs Brookfield vs Worcester 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Marshfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldBrookfieldWorcesterMarshfield
People
Population
1,314
1,486
831Lowest
1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
47±5.9
9% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
Plainfield and Brookfield 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%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Brookfield 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%
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Plainfield 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%
45.3%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
Worcester and Brookfield 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
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below VT
Brookfield and Worcester 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
$339,300±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
Brookfield 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
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,023±$136
17% below VT
$1,317±$126Highest
7% above VT
Marshfield and Plainfield 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
$4,560
10% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
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%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
37 minHighest
55% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
24.5%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Marshfield 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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.