Compare towns
Hyde Park vs Benson vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k 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 | Hyde Park | Benson | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 513 |
784Highest |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,800±$57k 30% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
| Benson and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Hyde Park and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893 23% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.