Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Brookline | Castleton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Brookline 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% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury and Brookline 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Brookline and Shaftsbury 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 |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school 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.