Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookfield vs Bridgewater 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%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Bridgewater | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,486Highest |
980 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
57.1±8 32% 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 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±$5k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Brookfield 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 |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | 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 Our Story | 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.