Compare towns

Wells vs Marshfield vs Washington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).

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.

MeasureWellsMarshfieldWashington
People
Population
1,148Highest
470Lowest
1,056
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-0.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.7±5.2
18% above VT
42.4±8.8Lowest
about the VT average
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±9.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Marshfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,417±$11k
7% below VT
$84,375±$20kHighest
4% above VT
$66,103±$8kLowest
19% below VT
Marshfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$42kHighest
23% below VT
$178,300±$31kLowest
44% below VT
$217,700±$37k
31% below VT
Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,313±$282Highest
6% above VT
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
$996±$285Lowest
19% below VT
Wells and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,308
34% below VT
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$3,485Highest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%
VT: 73.2%
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
48 minHighest
102% above VT
29 minLowest
24% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
11.3%±6.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.5%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
Marshfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 — Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
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.