Compare towns
Braintree vs North Bennington 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).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | North Bennington | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,336Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
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%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and North Bennington 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% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 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 |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| North Bennington 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 |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| North Bennington 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Lowest 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 Our Story | 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.