Compare towns
Marshfield vs Jay vs Belvidere 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Jay | Belvidere | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470 |
471 |
422Lowest |
531Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Brookline 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookline and Jay 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Brookline 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Marshfield and Belvidere 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,542±$1k 25% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Belvidere 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school 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.