Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Sutton
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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest 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 |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% 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% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% 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 | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$231,100±$41kHighest 27% below VT |
| Sutton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Braintree 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,975Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 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 |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Sutton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.