Compare towns
Braintree vs Ira vs Williston vs Bridgewater
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).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Ira | Williston | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
381Lowest |
10,144Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Bridgewater 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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±$5k 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 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 | — | 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.