Compare towns
Castleton vs Brookline vs Fair Haven vs Northfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Brookline | Fair Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
531Lowest |
2,724 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Brookline and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Brookline and Northfield 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Northfield 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.