Compare towns

Braintree vs Williston vs Ira

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 the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).

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.

MeasureBraintreeWillistonIra
People
Population
1,026
10,144Highest
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
54.1±5.5
26% above VT
Braintree and Ira 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%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Williston 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%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Braintree and Ira 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%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5
VT: 7%
Williston and Ira 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
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$272,900±$18k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$840±$405Lowest
32% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$942±$52
24% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$4,146
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Williston 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%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Braintree 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 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.