Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Putney 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Springfield | Putney | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,622 |
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±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Plainfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$214,100±$37k 32% below VT |
| Plainfield and Putney 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% 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 |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.