Compare towns
Brandon vs Sheldon vs Goshen vs Berlin
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Sheldon | Goshen | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
2,267 |
142Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Goshen and Berlin 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Berlin 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin 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±$12k 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$330,000±$115kHighest 4% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Goshen and Berlin 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 |
— | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Berlin 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.