Compare towns
Dover vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dover | Castleton | Brookfield | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
1,362Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Dover and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
| Marlboro and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
| Marlboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Marlboro 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.