Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Castleton vs Cavendish vs Brattleboro
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Cavendish | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
4,453 |
1,242Lowest |
7,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
| Cavendish 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±$18k 19% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$234,600±$20k 26% below VT |
| Cavendish and Brattleboro 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,113±$67 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Brattleboro 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,490 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.1%±9.5 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
19 minHighest 17% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.