Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ripton vs Sheffield vs Worcester
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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Sheffield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
508 |
573 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 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% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
— | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Marshfield and Worcester 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.