Compare towns

Plainfield 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).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldSheldonMarshfield
People
Population
1,314Lowest
2,267Highest
1,863
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above 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%
23.7%±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%
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%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
38.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4Highest
VT: 7%
Marshfield and Plainfield 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
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below VT
Sheldon 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
$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±$103Lowest
7% 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$3,668
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older 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
7% above VT
29 minHighest
23% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
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 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.