Compare towns
Braintree vs Middlesex vs Rochester 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Rochester | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,943Highest |
1,389 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Benson 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.