Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Middlesex vs Castleton vs Windsor
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 shortest commute (15 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,657Highest |
1,943Lowest |
4,453 |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Windsor and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Brattleboro 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,734±$12k 35% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brattleboro 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #61 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 Our Story | 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.