Compare towns
Thornton vs Braintree vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Thornton | Braintree | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Thornton School District | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.