Compare towns
Benson vs Hyde Park 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).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hyde Park | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
513 |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Hyde Park 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest 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 |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$221,800±$57k 30% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
| Benson and Hyde Park 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 |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Hyde Park and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,893 23% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest 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% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Marshfield 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 | — | #59 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.