Compare towns
Rochester vs Braintree vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Braintree | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest 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+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 | $253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rochester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Highest 21% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.