Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Strafford
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — | Strafford 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.