Compare towns
Wheelock vs Braintree vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Wheelock | Braintree | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717Lowest |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Braintree and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.