Compare towns
Braintree vs Proctor vs Benson vs Rochester
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).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Proctor | Benson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,586Highest |
784Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.3±8.9Lowest 10% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% 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% |
17.2%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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±$28k 31% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
| Rochester and Benson 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 |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Benson and Proctor 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.