What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).

Braintree has the most kids (12.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Braintree
People
Population	666Lowest	1,026Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	58.4±2.4Lowest 35% above VT
	Grafton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	12.3%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Braintree and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%	33.2%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Grafton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Grafton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT	$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average
	Braintree and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT
	Grafton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 4% below VT	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	81%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	26 minHighest 11% above VT
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Braintree and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton 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

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.