Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Walden
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).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden 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% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Walden 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% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Brookline and Walden 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±$79 9% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Marshfield 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.