Compare towns
Newfields vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Lyme
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% 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 |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest 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% |
3.3%±1.9 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. |
$133,906±$15k 66% 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% 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. |
1977 3 yrs 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. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.