Compare towns
Vernon vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Vernon | Braintree | Castleton | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| Vernon and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$312,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Guilford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Guilford 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.