Compare towns
Marshfield vs Reading vs Sheffield
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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Reading | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
699Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| 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±$31k 44% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Marshfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269 35% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Sheffield 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 24% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.