Compare towns
Braintree vs Fair Haven vs Jay vs Brookfield
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k 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 | Jay | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,724Highest |
471Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Braintree and Jay 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Brookfield 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% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Braintree 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | 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 |
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.