Compare towns

Castleton vs Brookfield vs Cornish

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

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.

MeasureCastletonBrookfieldCornish
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,486Lowest
1,816
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
Cornish and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
Brookfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
Brookfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,221±$227Highest
14% below U.S.
Cornish and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Cornish School District
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

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.