Compare towns
Epsom vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Epsom | Castleton | Brookfield | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Newton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$459,500±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 99% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Newton 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sanborn Regional 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 |
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.