Compare towns
Sheldon vs Middlesex vs Brookfield vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Middlesex | Brookfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,943 |
1,486Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.