Compare towns
Newfields vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Braintree | Castleton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 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.



