Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Brookfield | Castleton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
4,453 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Brookfield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.