Compare towns
Plainfield vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Topsham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
999Lowest |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±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 |
$72,308±$60kHighest 11% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% 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 | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Plainfield 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.