Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Peacham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.3%).
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 | Barnet | Castleton | Brookfield | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Brookfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Peacham 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 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.