Compare towns
Braintree vs Danby vs Pawlet
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,133 |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
| Braintree and Danby 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% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Danby 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% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Pawlet 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% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Danby 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 |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Braintree and Danby 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±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Danby and Pawlet 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 |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
| Pawlet and Braintree 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 |
$4,543Highest 10% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.