Compare towns
Castleton vs Royalton vs Brookline vs Ira
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).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Royalton | Brookline | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,752 |
531 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Royalton 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% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Royalton and Brookline 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Brookline and Ira 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.