Compare towns
Marshfield vs Brookline vs Ira
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).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Marshfield | Brookline | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470 |
531Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Ira 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| 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 |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Ira 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Brookline 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%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 minHighest 24% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.