Compare towns
Braintree vs Ira vs Sharon 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Ira | Sharon | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
381Lowest |
1,577Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Sharon and Benson 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 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 | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.