Compare towns
Burke vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Cabot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Burke | Brookfield | Castleton | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,317Lowest |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
| Brookfield and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
| Burke and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Highest about the VT average |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.