Compare towns
Castleton vs Braintree vs Benson vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Castleton | Braintree | Benson | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,026 |
784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.