Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Cornwall vs Fair Haven
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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Castleton | Cornwall | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,208 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Cornwall and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Cornwall 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cornwall 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.