Compare towns
Braintree vs Hardwick vs Benson
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).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k 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 | Hardwick | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,965Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Braintree 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±$406 29% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.