Compare towns
Newfane vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Newfane | Castleton | Braintree | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Braintree and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Braintree and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.