Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Ira vs Sharon
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).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Ira | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Braintree and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon 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±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Castleton 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Braintree 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Sharon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.