Compare towns
Marshfield vs Jay vs Starksboro
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 ($214k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Starksboro has the most expensive homes ($288k 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 | Jay | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
471Lowest |
1,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Jay and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Marshfield and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Starksboro and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the VT average |
| Starksboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$287,700±$42kHighest 9% below VT |
| Starksboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
— | $1,306±$91Lowest 6% above VT |
| Marshfield and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,668 27% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.