Compare towns

Brookfield vs Chittenden 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 people working from home (27.3%).
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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.

MeasureBrookfieldChittendenBraintree
People
Population
1,486Highest
1,318
1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
Braintree and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5
VT: 17.9%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and Chittenden 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%
21.8%±4Lowest
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%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Chittenden 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
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
$79,803±$5kLowest
about the VT average
Chittenden 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±$15k
7% above VT
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
Chittenden and Brookfield 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
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
$840±$405Lowest
32% below VT
Chittenden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
10% below VT
$5,346Highest
6% above VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
43.4%±29.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Braintree and Brookfield 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%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
11.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Barstow Unified Union School District #49 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None 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.