Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sheldon vs Braintree vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Braintree has the most renters (19% rent).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Bridgewater | Sheldon | Braintree | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,026 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Braintree and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.