Compare towns
Braintree vs Middlesex vs Sheldon vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Braintree | Middlesex | Sheldon | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$77,109±$12kLowest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Stockbridge and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.