Compare towns

Marshfield vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldReadingBelvidere
People
Population
470
699Highest
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
40.7±6.5Lowest
6% below VT
Reading and Marshfield 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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Belvidere and Marshfield 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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Marshfield and Reading 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
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$81,563±$18kLowest
about the VT average
Reading 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
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$239,200±$51k
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% 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
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$3,908
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±53.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Belvidere and Reading 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%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
24% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school in town — None in town —
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.