Compare towns

Brookfield vs Castleton vs Cornish

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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldCastletonCornish
People
Population
1,486Lowest
4,453Highest
1,816
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish 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%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Cornish 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
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%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
Brookfield and Cornish 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.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Brookfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,221±$227Highest
14% below U.S.
Cornish and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,796Highest
86% 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%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
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
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
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 Cornish School District
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.