Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Weston
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 youngest population (median age 51.9).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Weston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Braintree | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,026Highest |
685Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
| Weston and Braintree 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest 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±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,375±$729Highest 11% above VT |
| Weston 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 |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Braintree 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Weston 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.