What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Athens has the youngest population (median age 47.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	Athens
People
Population	1,026Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT	47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average	$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT
	Braintree and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT	$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT
	Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT	$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT
	Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT	$5,438Highest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4%
	Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% above VT	36 minHighest 53% above VT
Work from home	19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.