Compare towns

Marshfield vs Arlington vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldArlingtonBrookline
People
Population
470Lowest
2,598Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
37.6±4Lowest
13% below VT
45.1±2.7Highest
5% above VT
Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±9.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.6%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Marshfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,375±$20k
4% above VT
$102,308±$11kHighest
26% above VT
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the VT average
Arlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$178,300±$31kLowest
44% below VT
$318,500±$59kHighest
about the VT average
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79Lowest
9% below VT
$1,191±$172
3% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$4,549
10% below VT
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Arlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1966
10 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
24% above VT
20 minLowest
13% below VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
Arlington and Brookline 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 — #50 of 70 in VT —
School district — Arlington School District —
High school in town — Arlington Memorial —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
—
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.