Compare towns

Bloomfield vs Dover vs Sheffield vs Marshfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Marshfield has the highest household income ($84k).

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.

MeasureBloomfieldDoverSheffieldMarshfield
People
Population
234Lowest
1,466Highest
573
470
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
41.9±12Lowest
about the VT average
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
42±8
about the VT average
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
Dover and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±14.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
Bloomfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±8
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4
VT: 21.4%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.7%
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,375±$17k
33% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$58,333±$26k
28% below VT
$84,375±$20kHighest
4% above VT
Marshfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,600±$63k
40% below VT
$332,900±$55kHighest
5% above VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
$178,300±$31k
44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$967±$79
22% below VT
$1,125±$79Highest
9% below VT
Marshfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,800
44% below VT
$4,510Highest
10% below VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
$3,269
35% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
28% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
29 min
24% above VT
Work from home
4.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7
VT: 16.9%
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — River Valleys Unified School District #73 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 —
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.