Compare towns
Braintree vs Highgate vs Benson 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Highgate | Benson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
3,528Highest |
784Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
47±5.9 9% 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brookfield 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Benson and Brookfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Braintree 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.