Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Sheldon vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Chesterfield | Sheldon | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622 |
2,267Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro 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 | #52 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.