Compare towns
Brookfield vs Arlington vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Brookfield | Arlington | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
2,598Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
| Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Brookfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Arlington School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.