Compare towns

Brookfield vs Brookline vs Castleton vs Windham

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%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldBrooklineCastletonWindham
People
Population
1,486
531Lowest
4,453Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47±5.9Highest
9% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Brookfield and Brookline 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%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline 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%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Windham 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%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Brookfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15k
7% above VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Brookfield 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
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
10% below VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Brookline 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%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Brookline 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school 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.