Compare towns
Hancock vs Castleton vs Braintree vs North Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
North Troy has the most kids (31.6% 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 | Hancock | Castleton | Braintree | North Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,026 |
506 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
34.1±4.4 21% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
16.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$50,417±$5kLowest 38% below VT |
| Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% below VT |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and North Troy 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.