Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Panton
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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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 | Marshfield | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Panton 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% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
| Panton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
| Brookline and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Brookline 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.