Compare towns
Sheffield vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Waterville | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573 |
680Highest |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sheffield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
| Marshfield and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
| Marshfield and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
29 minLowest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Waterville 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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.