What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Braintree has the most homeowners (81%).

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	Montpelier	Braintree
People
Population	8,014Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT
Kids under 18	17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Montpelier and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average	$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average
	Montpelier and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT
	Montpelier and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 38% above VT	$3,908Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Braintree and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 23% below VT	26 minHighest 11% above VT
Work from home	26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Montpelier and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	Montpelier High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.