Compare towns
Hinsdale vs Castleton vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hinsdale has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Hinsdale | Castleton | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,997Lowest |
4,453 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±10.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Hinsdale and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hinsdale and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,191±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,700±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$409Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,899 57% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hinsdale 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 | #110 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hinsdale School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hinsdale High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 9.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.