Compare towns
Belvidere vs Benson vs Marshfield vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
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 | Belvidere | Benson | Marshfield | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
784Highest |
470 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Benson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Marshfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1k 25% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.