Compare towns
Castleton vs Windham vs Braintree vs Hyde Park
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Windham | Braintree | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,038Highest |
1,026Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hyde Park 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,007±$340 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.