Compare towns
Castleton vs Braintree vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Braintree 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.