Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Strafford
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Braintree and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Strafford 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.