Compare towns
Braintree vs Putney vs Sheldon vs Chelsea
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,267 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%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 |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Chelsea 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.6% 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% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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 |
$260,900±$39k 18% 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±$379 4% above VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Putney 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% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.