Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Cabot vs Danby
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
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 | Braintree | Cabot | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,579Highest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
| Braintree and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Danby 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 |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% 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 | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
| Danby and Cabot 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 |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Cabot 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Cabot 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 | 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.