Compare towns
Braintree vs Coventry vs Benson vs Rochester
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).
Coventry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Coventry | Benson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
917 |
784Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.2Lowest 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Coventry 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% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Coventry 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 |
$59,342±$3kLowest 27% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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±$28k 31% below VT |
$197,900±$55kLowest 37% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
| Rochester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Benson and Rochester 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 |
$2,375Lowest 53% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
1.5%±27.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Coventry School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.