Compare towns
Braintree vs Halifax vs Whitingham 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Halifax | Whitingham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
847Lowest |
1,368 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Whitingham 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% 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±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
| Brookfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Brookfield 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.