Compare towns
Marshfield vs Strafford vs Whiting
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Strafford | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
1,372Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Strafford and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20kLowest 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Marshfield 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.