Compare towns

Eliot vs Castleton vs Brookfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureEliotCastletonBrookfield
People
Population
7,146Highest
4,453
1,486Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
Eliot and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$98,500±$23k
22% above U.S.
Eliot and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Eliot 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 #19 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT —
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.