Compare towns
Braintree vs Cavendish vs Strafford vs Brookfield
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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Strafford | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,242 |
1,372 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Braintree and Strafford 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%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Brookfield 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Strafford and Brookfield 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±$40k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Braintree 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Strafford School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None 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.