Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Halifax vs Lincoln
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 oldest population (median age 47).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($365k 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Castleton | Halifax | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,453Highest |
847Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Halifax 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
| Lincoln and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Brookfield 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 | Halifax School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.