Compare towns
Braintree vs Glover vs Benson vs Rochester
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).
Glover has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Glover | Benson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,051 |
784Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.4±5.9Lowest 12% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
22.3%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Glover 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Glover 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 |
$73,839±$18k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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 |
$264,700±$34kHighest 16% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Glover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$973±$130 21% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Benson and Glover 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 |
$3,234Lowest 36% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.3%±64.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
93.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.