Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookfield vs Vernon
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 people working from home (27.3%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,486 |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Vernon 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% |
22.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Brookfield and Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Brookfield 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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.