What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).

Orleans has the most renters (35.9% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	Orleans
People
Population	470Lowest	809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±8.8Highest about the VT average	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT
	Marshfield and Orleans 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%	17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Marshfield and Orleans 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%	19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans 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	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
	Marshfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$178,300±$31kHighest 44% below VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
	Marshfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,269Highest 35% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Marshfield and Orleans 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%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 24% above VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Marshfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.