Compare towns
Braintree vs Jay vs Plainfield
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Jay | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
471Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Braintree and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Braintree and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Braintree 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Braintree 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.