Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Ira vs Stratton
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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Ira | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Ira 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Brookfield 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton 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±$195 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Castleton 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ira 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.