Compare towns
Chelsea vs Worcester vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Chelsea | Worcester | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Highest |
831Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% 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 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Worcester and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Chelsea and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.