Compare towns
Braintree vs Mount Tabor 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Mount Tabor | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
304Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
57.8±10.6 34% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Braintree 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% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Braintree 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 |
— | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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 |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above 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% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Braintree 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.