Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Castleton | Braintree | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kHighest 19% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest 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 | 17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 10.7Highest |
| 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.