Compare towns
Marshfield vs Benson vs Sheffield vs Hyde Park
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Sheffield | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
784Highest |
573 |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
42.6±10.1 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 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest 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+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sheffield 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% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Sheffield 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 |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% 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 | $178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$221,800±$57k 30% 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 | $1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above 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 | $3,269 35% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,893 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Benson 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% |
6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3 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 | 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 | 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.