Compare towns
New Braintree vs Williston vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Braintree has the most homeowners (89.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | New Braintree | Williston | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 973Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$95,613±$12kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Williston and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$354,000±$21kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$316 5% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,236±$271Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Williston and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,508 77% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,260Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Braintree and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and West Brookfield 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Quaboag Regional |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.