Compare towns
Braintree vs Chelsea vs Derby Center
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 people working from home (19%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Derby Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
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 | Chelsea | Derby Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,223Highest |
693Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
54.1±12.1Lowest 26% above VT |
61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
| Derby Center and Braintree 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% |
14.1%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Derby Center 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±$13k 19% below VT |
$58,250±$10kLowest 28% below VT |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$196,600±$24kLowest 38% below VT |
| Chelsea and Braintree 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 |
$1,078±$257 13% below VT |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
$2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
16 minLowest 31% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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 | — |
| High school 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.