Compare towns
Benson vs Marshfield vs Sheffield vs Waterville
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Marshfield has the highest household income ($84k).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Marshfield | Sheffield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
470 |
190Lowest |
680 |
| 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 |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Waterville 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Marshfield and Benson 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 |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sheffield 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 |
$3,269 35% below VT |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Marshfield 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 | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.