Compare towns
Braintree vs Fair Haven vs Hampton vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
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 | Fair Haven | Hampton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,724Highest |
1,145 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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 U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.