What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	Essex
People
Population	1,026Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7%
	Essex and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT	$6,602Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex and Braintree 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%	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Highest VT: 73.2%	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% above VT	22 minLowest 6% below VT
Work from home	19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Essex 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	—	#13 of 70 in VT
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.