Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookline vs Marshfield
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).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k 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 | Brookline | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
531 |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield 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% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
| Marshfield and Brookline 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 |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Brookline 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.