Compare towns
Brandon vs Sharon vs Goshen
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).
Sharon has the highest household income ($84k).
Goshen has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Sharon | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,577 |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Sharon 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 |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Goshen 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 |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
— |
| Sharon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,240 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Brandon and Sharon 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.