Compare towns

Marshfield vs Bolton vs Sheffield

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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.

MeasureMarshfieldBoltonSheffield
People
Population
470Lowest
1,163Highest
573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±8.8Highest
about the VT average
36.3±1.7Lowest
16% below VT
42±8
about the VT average
Marshfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±9.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.9%±4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
10.2%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
6.7%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%
VT: 43.8%
58.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Sheffield 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±$20k
4% above VT
$111,125±$17kHighest
37% above VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Bolton 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
$311,600±$42kHighest
about the VT average
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
$1,299±$273Highest
5% above VT
$967±$79Lowest
22% below VT
Bolton 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
$4,826Highest
4% below VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
28%±30.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
2.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.6%
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
24% above VT
28 minLowest
17% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Bolton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 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

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.