Compare towns
Braintree vs Rochester vs Sheldon vs Benson
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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Rochester | Sheldon | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,389 |
2,267Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Benson 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% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson 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±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Sheldon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Benson 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.