Compare towns
Castleton vs Windham 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Windham | Brookline | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
594 |
531 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.2±7.4 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% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Windham 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% |
48.1%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.