Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Putney vs Sheldon vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Brattleboro | Putney | Sheldon | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
2,622 |
2,267Lowest |
7,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brattleboro 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,600±$20kLowest 26% below VT |
| Putney and Sheldon 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,113±$67 10% below 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,490 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.