Compare towns
Derby vs Castleton vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Derby | Castleton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Derby and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kHighest 29% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Derby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Castleton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Derby 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.