Compare towns
Plainfield vs Franklin vs Sheldon 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 population (median age 48.1).
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Franklin | Sheldon | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,590 |
2,267Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Franklin and Sheldon 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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 |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield and Sheldon 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,668 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.