Compare towns
Sheldon vs Worcester vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Worcester | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
831Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.