Compare towns
Braintree vs Cabot vs Strafford 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 the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Cabot | Strafford | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,579Highest |
1,372 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above 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% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Strafford 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%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Cabot and Strafford 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 |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot 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 | — | Strafford School District | 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.