Compare towns
Marshfield vs Chester 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).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Chester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
2,992Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Chester 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.