Compare towns
Braintree vs Danby vs Fairlee 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Danby | Fairlee | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,133Highest |
1,066 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Fairlee 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% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Danby 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% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% 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 |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Fairlee and Danby 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 |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.