Compare towns
Brighton vs Braintree vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Orleans has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
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.
| Measure | Brighton | Braintree | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
1,026 |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$217,700±$28kHighest 31% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$840±$405Highest 32% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Braintree and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.