Compare towns
Halifax vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Craftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Craftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).
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 | Halifax | Braintree | Castleton | Craftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
1,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+11.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.5±4.6 4% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
12.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$83,672±$16kHighest 3% above VT |
| Craftsbury and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$270,500±$44kHighest 15% below VT |
| Craftsbury and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,091±$184 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,164 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.9%±29.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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 | 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.