Compare towns
Johnson vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% 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 | Johnson | Braintree | Castleton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,450 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$229,000±$15kHighest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 34% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
64.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.