Compare towns
Barton vs Benson vs Braintree vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Barton | Benson | Braintree | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
784 |
1,026Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.