Compare towns

Braintree vs Proctor vs Troy 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).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).

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.

MeasureBraintreeProctorTroyBenson
People
Population
1,026
1,794Highest
1,749
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
44.5±5.7
3% above VT
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%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.4%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Proctor and Troy 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%
22.4%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
17.7%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Braintree and Benson 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%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
20.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
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±$5k
about the VT average
$74,167±$12kLowest
9% below VT
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
$78,625±$8k
3% below VT
Troy and Braintree 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
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
$233,200±$21k
26% below VT
$242,000±$26kHighest
24% below VT
Benson and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$840±$405
32% below VT
$1,029±$202
17% below VT
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
$1,113±$170Highest
10% 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
$3,908
22% below VT
$4,032
20% below VT
$3,644Lowest
28% below VT
$4,125Highest
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
32 minHighest
35% above VT
Work from home
19%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
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 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Troy School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
— —
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.