Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Proctor vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureBrattleboroProctorSheldon
People
Population
12,122Highest
1,794Lowest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
42.4±6.4
about the VT average
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Brattleboro and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.4%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
$272,400±$61kHighest
14% below VT
Sheldon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$4,032
20% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Brattleboro and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
16.2%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
19% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
Work from home
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro and Sheldon 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 #33 of 70 in VT — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Highest
8.7Lowest
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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.