Compare towns
Benson vs Brookline vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k 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 | Benson | Brookline | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
531 |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 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 | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% 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 | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest 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 |
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.