Compare towns
Marshfield vs Benson 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).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k 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 | Marshfield | Benson | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
784Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Benson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest 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+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest 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 | $84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Marshfield and Brookline 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest 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 | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.