Compare towns
Braintree vs Williston vs Brookfield vs Rochester
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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 | Williston | Brookfield | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,486 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% 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 |
53.3±7.6 24% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
31.5%±3.1 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Brookfield 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,977 21% 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% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Williston 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Brookfield 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.