Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Westminster vs Panton
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 oldest population (median age 45.1).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
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 | Westminster | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
4,453Highest |
497Lowest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Panton 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
| Panton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
| Brookline and Panton 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% 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 |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.