Compare towns
Plainfield vs Shelburne vs Windham 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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Shelburne | Windham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,969Highest |
594Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Windham 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Shelburne and Windham 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
— | $1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Shelburne and Marshfield 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | — |
| 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.