Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Middlesex vs Braintree vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Stockbridge | Middlesex | Braintree | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
1,943Highest |
1,026 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12kLowest 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,488 11% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.