Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Proctor vs Benson
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).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k 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 | Proctor | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,453Highest |
1,794 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% 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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.