Compare towns
Castleton vs Braintree vs Underhill vs Ira
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 the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Underhill | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,026 |
3,141 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Braintree and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Underhill and Braintree 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— | $942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.