Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Braintree 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).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Braintree | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
9,084Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Braintree 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$214,100±$37k 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Braintree 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.