What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pownal has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

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	Pownal	Braintree
People
Population	3,265Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT	58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT
	Braintree and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Pownal and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Braintree and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	30.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%	1.8%±1.3Highest VT: 7%
	Braintree and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT	$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average
	Braintree and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT	$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT
	Pownal and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$944±$139Highest 24% below VT	$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT
	Pownal and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,560Lowest 29% below VT	$3,908Highest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4%	43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Pownal and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	81%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 10% below VT	26 minHighest 11% above VT
Work from home	16.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Braintree and Pownal 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	#67 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87	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.