Compare towns
Braintree vs Bridgewater vs Orange vs Benson
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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
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 | Braintree | Bridgewater | Orange | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
980 |
957 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Orange 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% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bridgewater 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 |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% 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 | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Orange 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 |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Orange and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.