Compare towns
Braintree vs Chelsea 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Benson has the youngest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Chelsea | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,223Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea 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% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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 |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson 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 |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Chelsea and Benson 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 |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson 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% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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.