Compare towns
Castleton vs Johnson vs Braintree
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).
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Johnson | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,450 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Braintree 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 |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Castleton and Johnson 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 |
$3,310 34% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Johnson 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% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.