Compare towns
Braintree vs Townshend vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Townshend | Windham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,538Highest |
594Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Bridgewater 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$5k about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Windham 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±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
— | $850±$778 31% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Bridgewater 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.