Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sharon vs Braintree vs Randolph
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 most people working from home (27.3%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 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 | Brookfield | Sharon | Braintree | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,577 |
1,026Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Sharon and Brookfield 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 |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Sharon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Braintree 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sharon School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.