Compare towns
Walden vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Walden | Castleton | Braintree | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
| Braintree and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,304±$9kLowest 10% below VT |
| Walden and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,111±$29 10% below VT |
| Castleton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
93.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 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 | 26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.