Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Richmond vs Bridgewater
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).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Richmond | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,453Highest |
4,159 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $850±$778 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Bridgewater 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| 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.