Compare towns
Brookline vs Groton vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Brookline | Groton | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
967Highest |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
$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 | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
| Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,659 27% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.