Compare towns

Castleton vs Braintree vs Windham

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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureCastletonBraintreeWindham
People
Population
4,453
1,026Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%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%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$79,803±$5k
about the U.S. average
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,908
25% above U.S.
$3,938Highest
26% 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%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%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
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — #95 of 133 in ME
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 RSU 14
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.1
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.