What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

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	Brandon	Sheffield
People
Population	4,120Highest	573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	42±8Lowest about the VT average
	Brandon and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brandon and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4%	19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Sheffield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$12kHighest 21% below VT	$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT
	Brandon and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT	$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT
	Brandon and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT	$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT
	Brandon and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Highest 16% below VT	$2,123Lowest 58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Sheffield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	30 minHighest 28% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brandon and Sheffield 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	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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

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.