Compare towns
Brookfield vs Bethel vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Brookfield | Bethel | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,736Highest |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Bethel and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Bethel and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | White River Unified School District #79 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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 |
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.