Compare towns

Castleton vs Rockingham vs Brookline

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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureCastletonRockinghamBrookline
People
Population
4,453
4,807Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
-8.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
46.4±2.6Highest
8% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
Rockingham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Rockingham 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%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
6.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$70,857±$16kLowest
13% below VT
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the VT average
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
$210,900±$14kLowest
33% below VT
$290,700±$37kHighest
8% below VT
Brookline and Castleton 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
$1,062±$101Lowest
14% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,887
3% below VT
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.7%±13.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Brookline 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%
16.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
VT: 73.2%
61.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
17% below VT
20 min
16% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Rockingham 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 #65 of 70 in VT —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Rockingham School District —
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.