Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Hampton vs Northfield
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 most people working from home (19%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Hampton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
1,145 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Braintree and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% 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% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.