Compare towns
Braintree vs Randolph vs Castleton vs Chelsea
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).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Randolph | Castleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,007 |
4,453Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea 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% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Braintree and Randolph 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 |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
| Chelsea and Randolph 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 |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Castleton 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 |
$4,507Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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 | 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.