Compare towns
Benson vs Bethel vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Bethel has the most homeowners (83.6%).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Benson | Bethel | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,736Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
50.7±3.7Lowest 18% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Benson and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Bethel and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 | 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 Our Story | 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.