Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Jericho
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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Fair Haven | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
2,724 |
5,114Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Castleton 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.