Compare towns
Braintree vs Weston vs Chelsea
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 affordable homes ($218k median).
Weston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Weston | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
685Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
54.1±12.1Lowest 26% above VT |
| Weston and Braintree 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% |
15.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea 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 |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,375±$729 11% above VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Weston 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 |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Weston 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 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.