Compare towns
Braintree vs Chelsea vs Williston
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).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,223 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$5k about the VT average |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,524±$467 24% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Chelsea 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.