Compare towns

Castleton vs Brookfield vs Hermon

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%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).

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.

MeasureCastletonBrookfieldHermon
People
Population
4,453
1,486Lowest
6,727Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
41.1±4.7
6% above U.S.
Brookfield and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hermon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$96,629±$22k
20% above U.S.
Brookfield and Hermon 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
$333,600±$32k
about the U.S. average
Brookfield and Hermon 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.
$1,406±$202Highest
about the U.S. average
Hermon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Brookfield 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — #54 of 133 in ME
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Hermon Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.6
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.