Compare towns
Braintree vs Jay vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
471Lowest |
1,314 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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% |
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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% 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 |
1975 1 yr 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 |
37 min 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.