What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

Hinesburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	Hinesburg
People
Population	1,026Lowest	4,718Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT	50.1±5.2Lowest 16% above VT
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	18%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Hinesburg and Braintree 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%	25.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Braintree and Hinesburg 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%	64.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7%
	Braintree and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average	$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT	$463,400±$51kHighest 46% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT	$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT	$7,667Highest 52% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.2%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hinesburg 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%	8.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% above VT	20 minLowest 17% below VT
Work from home	19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Hinesburg 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	—	#4 of 70 in VT
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	None in town	Champlain Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.