Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Underhill
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).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Braintree 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | #2 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 |
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.