Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sandgate vs Castleton vs Chelsea
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 highest household income ($99k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Sandgate | Castleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
| Sandgate 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Chelsea 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Brookfield and Castleton 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| 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 10% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school 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.