Compare towns
Braintree vs Williston vs Brookfield 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Williston | Brookfield | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
10,144Highest |
1,486 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47±5.9 9% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brookfield 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Williston and Brookfield 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.