Compare towns
Troy vs Berlin vs Sheldon vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Troy | Berlin | Sheldon | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
2,880Highest |
2,267 |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Berlin and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% below VT |
| Troy and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$745±$504 40% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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.