Compare towns
Strafford vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Strafford | Castleton | Braintree | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
53.1±4.2 23% above VT |
| Braintree and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.