Compare towns
Barton vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Wells River
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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% 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 | Barton | Braintree | Castleton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Castleton and Wells River 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Barton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.