Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ripton vs Chester 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).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Ripton | Chester | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
508 |
2,992Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Sheffield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Marshfield and Sheffield 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.