Compare towns
Brasher vs Castleton vs Afton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Afton has the most renters (28.9% rent).
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 | Brasher | Castleton | Afton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,733 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±9 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.6±6.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Afton and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Afton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brasher and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,911±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$51,736±$13kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,300±$24kLowest 63% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$125,700±$23k 62% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$826±$212 42% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,395Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66%±45.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brasher and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Castleton and Afton 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 | #300 of 484 in NY | #39 of 70 in VT | #418 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.