Compare towns
Castleton vs Putney vs Braintree 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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Putney | Braintree | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,622 |
1,026 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above 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%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Braintree and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Ira 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$840±$405 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 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.