Compare towns
Washington vs Sheldon vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bradford has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Washington | Sheldon | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.3±5.2 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,015±$21kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$341,700±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Washington and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,507±$206Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 39% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,307Highest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±22.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bradford and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bradford and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.