Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookfield vs Chester
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).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,486 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Chester 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%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chester 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brookfield 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Brookfield and Chester 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 |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.