Compare towns

Plainfield vs Windham vs Marshfield vs Groton

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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWindhamMarshfieldGroton
People
Population
1,314
594Lowest
1,863Highest
967
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
—
-0.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
Plainfield and Groton 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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Windham 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%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
Windham 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%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
38.5%
VT: 43.8%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
Groton 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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
Windham and Groton 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
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
$243,000±$70k
23% below VT
Windham and Plainfield 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
—
$1,317±$126Highest
7% above VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below 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
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,668
27% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
65.7%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
9.2%
VT: 10.1%
6.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
14% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
30 minHighest
29% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
24.5%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Marshfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.