Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Fairlee vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Fairlee | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,066 |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
51.8±7.2Lowest 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Fairlee 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%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham and Benson 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% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairlee 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±$5k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Braintree 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Fairlee 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±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.