Compare towns
Brookline vs Royalton vs Castleton
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%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Royalton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,752 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brookline and Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton 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% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton 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% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Brookline and Royalton 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 |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | White River Unified School District #79 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.