Compare towns
Cavendish vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Braintree | Castleton | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Cavendish and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Castleton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Cavendish 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 | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.