Compare towns
Goshen vs Castleton vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Goshen | Castleton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 142Lowest |
4,453Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$115kHighest 4% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Goshen and Brandon 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 |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,240Highest 4% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Goshen and Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.