Compare towns
Braintree vs Northfield vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Northfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
5,920 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Braintree 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.