Compare towns

Brookfield vs Castleton vs West Windsor

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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldCastletonWest Windsor
People
Population
1,486
4,453Highest
1,171Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9
9% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
West Windsor and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10Highest
VT: 17.9%
West Windsor 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%
25.5%±6.7
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and West Windsor 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%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
West Windsor 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
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
West Windsor and Brookfield 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±$195Highest
8% below VT
$1,100±$217
11% below VT
Castleton and West Windsor 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
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Brookfield 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%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 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
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and West Windsor 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 Mount Ascutney School District #86
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.