Compare towns

Brooks vs Castleton vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

MeasureBrooksCastletonFranklin
People
Population
1,208Lowest
4,453Highest
1,628
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±6.6
18% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46±9.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
25.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,130±$10kLowest
27% below U.S.
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$65,455±$16k
19% below U.S.
Castleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,700±$33kLowest
41% below U.S.
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$245,800±$59kHighest
26% below U.S.
Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,116±$112
21% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$888±$306Lowest
37% below U.S.
Castleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,096Lowest
33% below U.S.
$3,167Highest
about the U.S. average
$2,231
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
14.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Brooks and Franklin 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 —
School district RSU 03/MSAD 03 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.