Compare towns
Braintree vs Williston vs Windham 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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Williston | Windham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
10,144Highest |
594Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Williston 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Chelsea 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Williston and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,524±$467 24% above VT |
| Williston and Chelsea 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.