Compare towns
Marshfield vs Middlesex 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 affordable homes ($214k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126 7% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Worcester 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.