Compare towns

Plainfield vs Fairlee 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 expensive homes ($318k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.5%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldFairleeMarshfield
People
Population
1,314
1,066Lowest
1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
38.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
Fairlee 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
$74,760±$10kHighest
8% below VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below VT
Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$274,200±$39k
13% below VT
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
Plainfield and Fairlee 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
$1,083±$242Lowest
12% 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
$4,806
5% below VT
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
65.7%±73.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
24 min
3% above VT
29 minHighest
23% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.5%±7.5Highest
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 — Rivendell Interstate School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.