Compare towns
Braintree vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,145 |
4,453Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,418 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.