Compare towns

Braintree vs Stockbridge vs Bridgewater

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 most renters (19% rent).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBraintreeStockbridgeBridgewater
People
Population
1,026Highest
791Lowest
980
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
55.3±5.3Lowest
28% above VT
57.1±8
32% above VT
Braintree and Bridgewater 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%
9.9%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Bridgewater 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%
27.9%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.2%±0.7
VT: 21.4%
Braintree and Bridgewater 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%
35%
VT: 43.8%
40.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.1%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Braintree 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
$77,109±$12k
5% below VT
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below VT
Braintree and Stockbridge 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
$283,500±$26kHighest
10% below VT
$218,300±$55k
31% below VT
Stockbridge and Bridgewater 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
$1,140±$126Highest
8% below VT
$850±$778
31% below VT
Stockbridge and Bridgewater 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
$4,488Highest
11% below VT
$3,418Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
53.3%±22
VT: 48.4%
59.7%±39.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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%
3.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% above VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
28.6%±12.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Stockbridge 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 Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 —
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.