Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Thornton vs Lincoln
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 highest household income ($99k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,453Highest |
2,799 |
1,394Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% 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% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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 |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% 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% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Thornton 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 |
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.