Compare towns
Charleston vs Brighton vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Charleston | Brighton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,167Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Highest 21% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 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 | 12.3% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Brighton School District | 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 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.