Compare towns
Pownal vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Pownal | Castleton | Braintree | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,265 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Pownal and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Castleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.