Compare towns
Castleton vs Wheelock vs Brookline 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).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Wheelock | Brookline | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
717 |
531Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wheelock and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Brookline 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.