Compare towns

Goshen vs Sheldon vs Brandon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goshen has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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.

MeasureGoshenSheldonBrandon
People
Population
142Lowest
2,267
4,120Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
58.9±8.3Highest
37% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
50.1±3.1
16% above VT
Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.6%±11.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
37.3%±11.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.3%±4.1
VT: 21.4%
Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±10Lowest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
Brandon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,250±$33kLowest
31% below VT
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$64,180±$12k
21% below VT
Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,000±$115kHighest
4% above VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$227,800±$23kLowest
28% below VT
Goshen and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$1,064±$225Lowest
14% below VT
Sheldon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,240Highest
4% above VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,241
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.7%±15.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Brandon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
84.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
12.1%±9.3
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Sheldon and Goshen 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 — — #69 of 70 in VT
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town — None in town Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.9
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.