Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Epping vs Elmore
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Epping | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,453 |
7,430Highest |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest 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% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Epping and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Epping and Elmore 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 |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castleton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.