Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Colrain
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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Castleton | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mohawk Trail |
| 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 |
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.