Compare towns
Lowell vs Braintree vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Kirby has the most expensive homes ($303k 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 | Lowell | Braintree | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
1,026 |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Kirby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$302,900±$63kHighest 4% below VT |
| Kirby and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,597Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.