Compare towns
Mendon vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Mendon | Braintree | Castleton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
| Braintree and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$870±$464 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.