Compare towns
Windsor vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Castleton | Braintree | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Braintree and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$56,086±$2k 31% 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 | $170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% 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 | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Bellows Falls 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.