Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Brookline | Castleton | Fair Haven | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Brookline 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.