Compare towns
Worcester vs Marshfield vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Worcester | Marshfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,863Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.