Compare towns
Brooks vs Castleton vs Waldo 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 affordable homes ($197k median).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Waldo has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brooks | Castleton | Waldo | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
4,453Highest |
926Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
36.4% 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% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
$65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Waldo 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. |
$208,000±$41k 37% 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691Highest 19% below U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Waldo and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Castleton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer 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. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.