Compare towns
Barton vs Braintree vs Brookfield vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Barton | Braintree | Brookfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,026 |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 |
| 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.