Compare towns
Braintree vs Williston vs Windham vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Windham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
10,144 |
19,188Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 14 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.