Compare towns
Sheffield vs Reading 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 affordable homes ($172k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Sheffield | Reading | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573 |
699Highest |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
| Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
| Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
| Marshfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 minLowest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.