Compare towns
Braintree vs Brighton vs Ludlow 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k 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 | Brighton | Ludlow | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,167Highest |
808 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Benson 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% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ludlow 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$56,667±$19k 30% 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±$28k 31% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Ludlow 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 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 | Brighton School District | — | 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.