Compare towns
Wilder vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Wilder | Castleton | Braintree | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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 | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.