Compare towns
Brookfield vs Shelburne vs Williston 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 most homeowners (87.9%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Shelburne | Williston | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
7,969 |
10,144Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne and Williston 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Williston and Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Shelburne 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Brookfield 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.