Compare towns

Randolph vs Brewer vs Castleton vs Braintree

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most expensive homes ($279k median).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

MeasureRandolphBrewerCastletonBraintree
People
Population
4,843
9,652Highest
4,453
1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
40.1±4.8
3% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$79,803±$5kHighest
about the U.S. average
Braintree and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38kHighest
16% below U.S.
$245,300±$21k
26% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
Randolph and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698Highest
51% above U.S.
$3,374
8% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,908
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±29.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
81%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Braintree and Randolph 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 #55 of 70 in VT #32 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Brewer Public Schools Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town Randolph Union High School Brewer High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Lowest
14.0Highest
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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.