Compare towns
Kirby vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Kirby | Castleton | Braintree | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 756Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,026 |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Burke and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$938±$191 24% below VT |
| Kirby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,597 9% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 43% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Kirby 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.