Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Calais vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Brattleboro | Calais | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,657Highest |
1,713Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,600±$20k 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.