Compare towns
Braintree vs Bethel vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Bethel has the most expensive homes ($238k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Bethel | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,736 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Braintree and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$238,000±$41kHighest 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Bethel and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Bethel and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | White River Unified School District #79 | 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 Our Story | 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.