Compare towns
Unity vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Unity | Castleton | Braintree | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Unity 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 | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.