Compare towns
Braintree vs Putney vs Sheldon
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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Putney | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Braintree 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.