Compare towns
Fairlee vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Braintree | Castleton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Braintree and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.