Compare towns
Braintree vs Springfield vs Rochester 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).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Springfield | Rochester | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
9,084Highest |
1,389 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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±$28k 31% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Springfield 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.