What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).

Sheffield has the most kids (17.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	Sheffield
People
Population	1,026Highest	573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT	42±8Lowest about the VT average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Braintree 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%	19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Sheffield and Braintree 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	$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT
	Braintree and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$28kHighest 31% below VT	$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT
	Braintree and Sheffield 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	$967±$79Highest 22% below VT
	Sheffield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Highest 22% below VT	$2,123Lowest 58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Sheffield 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%	6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% above VT	30 minHighest 28% above VT
Work from home	19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.