Compare towns

Brookfield vs Sheldon vs Franklin

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%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldSheldonFranklin
People
Population
1,486Lowest
2,267Highest
1,590
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Highest
9% above VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
Brookfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
15.3%±1.4
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Franklin and Brookfield 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
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$79,917±$21k
about the VT average
Brookfield and Franklin 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
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$247,400±$66kLowest
22% below VT
Brookfield and Sheldon 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
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$891±$266Lowest
28% 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
$3,578
29% below VT
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Franklin and Brookfield 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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Franklin 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Missisquoi Valley School District #89
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

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.