Compare towns
Braintree vs Cavendish vs Jay vs Bridgewater
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).
Cavendish has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Cavendish | Jay | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,242Highest |
471Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Jay 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Cavendish and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,000±$546Highest 19% below VT |
— | $850±$778 31% below VT |
| Cavendish and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,948Highest 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Braintree 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.