What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leicester	Marshfield
People
Population	1,026Highest	470Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT	42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average
	Leicester and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Marshfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%	10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
	Marshfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT	$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT
	Marshfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average	$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT
	Leicester and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT	$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT
	Marshfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Highest 24% below VT	$3,269Lowest 35% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Marshfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 20% above VT	29 minHighest 24% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Marshfield and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.