Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Jay vs Elmore
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 expensive homes ($339k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore 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±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.