Compare towns
Fairfield vs Marshfield vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Fairfield | Marshfield | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
470Lowest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
42.4±8.8Highest about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Marshfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sheffield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Fairfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Marshfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 24% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None 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.