Compare towns
Braintree vs Jericho vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Jericho | Williston | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
5,114 |
10,144Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Jericho and Williston 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Jericho and Williston 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 |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Williston and Jericho 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 |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Benson 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.