Compare towns
Brookfield vs Castleton vs Wolfeboro vs Chelsea
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 most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Wolfeboro | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,453 |
6,571Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1 39% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Brookfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest 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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Chelsea 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.