Compare towns
Sheffield vs Benson vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Marshfield has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Sheffield | Benson | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 190Lowest |
784Highest |
470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±14 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
| Marshfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.