Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dover vs Sheldon vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Dover | Sheldon | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,466 |
2,267Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
| Sheldon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None 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.