Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Rockingham
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453 |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Rockingham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% 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 |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Brookline and Castleton 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 |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brookline 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% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Rockingham 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 | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.