Compare towns

Marshfield vs Fairfax vs Belvidere

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).
Fairfax has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldFairfaxBelvidere
People
Population
470
5,226Highest
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+17%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
42.4±8.8Highest
about the VT average
38.8±3.3Lowest
10% below VT
40.7±6.5
6% below VT
Marshfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±9.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
22%±4
VT: 17.9%
Fairfax and Belvidere 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%
12.5%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Fairfax and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Fairfax 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
$128,963±$29kHighest
59% above VT
$81,563±$18kLowest
about the VT average
Fairfax 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±$31kLowest
44% below VT
$378,200±$22kHighest
19% above VT
$239,200±$51k
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
$1,080±$131Lowest
12% below VT
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$5,497Highest
9% above VT
$3,908
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±33.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±53.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Belvidere 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%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.7%
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1994Highest
18 yrs newer than VT
1989
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
24% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Fairfax 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 — #36 of 70 in VT —
School district — Fairfax School District —
High school in town — Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
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.