Compare towns
Braintree vs Halifax vs Bridgewater
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 highest household income ($80k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Halifax | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
847Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Halifax and Bridgewater 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 |
$875±$154Highest 29% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Halifax and Bridgewater 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.