Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Proctor vs Stockbridge
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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Proctor | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,794Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
| Braintree and Stockbridge 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Stockbridge 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 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±$28k 31% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,488Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.