Compare towns
Windham vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Castleton | Braintree | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,026 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Windham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.