Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rupert and Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.