Compare towns
Braintree vs Sheldon vs Brookfield
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Brookfield 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.