Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Newfane 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).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Newfane | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,456Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
51.8±7.2Lowest 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Newfane 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% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Newfane 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 |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Newfane 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 |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Newfane 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest 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 |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.