Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Epping vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
7,430Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.