Compare towns
Braintree vs Groton vs Orange
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 people working from home (19%).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
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 | Groton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
967 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Groton 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% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Orange 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 |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Braintree and Groton 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 |
$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Groton and Orange 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 |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Groton 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% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Orange 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school 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.