Compare towns
Castleton vs Brookfield vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Castleton | Brookfield | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,486Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Brookfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and White River Junction 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.