Compare towns
Marshfield vs Walden vs Brookline vs Hyde Park
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).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% 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.
| Measure | Marshfield | Walden | Brookline | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
1,037Highest |
531 |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
| Walden and Brookline 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Brookline 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Walden and Brookline 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$221,800±$57k 30% below VT |
| Brookline and Walden 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,893 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Brookline 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — |
| High school 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.