Compare towns
Rochester vs Castleton vs Middlesex vs Braintree
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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Castleton | Middlesex | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
4,453Highest |
1,943 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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 |
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.