Compare towns

Brookfield vs Calais vs Chittenden

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%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Chittenden has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldCalaisChittenden
People
Population
1,486
1,713Highest
1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9
9% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
50.8±6.3Highest
18% above VT
Chittenden 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%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Calais 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%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
51.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
Calais and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kLowest
21% above VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
Chittenden and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15kLowest
7% above VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$346,800±$35k
10% above VT
Calais and Chittenden 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
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,125±$488
9% below VT
Calais and Chittenden 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
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$5,346
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1976
same as VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
28 minLowest
21% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Barstow Unified Union School District #49
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.