Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Springfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Lowest |
4,453 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.