Compare towns
Braintree vs Calais vs Northfield
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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Calais | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,713 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Northfield 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Calais and Northfield 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.