Compare towns

Braintree vs Burke 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%).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).

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.

MeasureBraintreeBurkeBenson
People
Population
1,026
1,317Highest
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below 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%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Burke 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%
21.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Braintree and Benson 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%
41.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
Benson and Burke 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
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
$78,625±$8kLowest
3% below VT
Burke 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
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$242,000±$26k
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$840±$405Lowest
32% below VT
$938±$191
24% below VT
$1,113±$170Highest
10% below VT
Benson and Burke 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
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
$4,125
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Benson 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%
10%
VT: 10.1%
5.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
VT: 73.2%
88.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
32 minHighest
35% above VT
Work from home
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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

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.