Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Sharon
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Brookline 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Brookline 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Brookline 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 |
$1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Brookline and Sharon 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Sharon School District |
| 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.