Compare towns
Derby vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Newport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Newport has the most renters (42.4% 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 | Derby | Castleton | Brookfield | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
| Derby and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Brookfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Newport 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.