Compare towns
Brandon vs Goshen vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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 | Brandon | Goshen | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
142Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$330,000±$115kHighest 4% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Goshen and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Goshen 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.