Compare towns

Marshfield vs Reading vs Salisbury 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 people working from home (22.9%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.

MeasureMarshfieldReadingSalisburyBelvidere
People
Population
470
699
1,200Highest
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
50.6±6.5
17% above VT
40.7±6.5Lowest
6% below VT
Reading and Salisbury 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%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2Lowest
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%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Salisbury and Reading 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%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
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%
1.6%±1.1
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±$19k
5% above VT
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above VT
$81,563±$18kLowest
about the VT average
Salisbury and Reading 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
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
$239,200±$51k
24% below VT
Reading and Salisbury 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
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,443±$984
17% above VT
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
Belvidere and Salisbury 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
$4,842
4% below VT
$3,908
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
24% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6
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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town — None 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.