Compare towns
Sheldon vs Marshfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Marshfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
470Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Marshfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest 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 | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.