Compare towns
Fairfield vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Fairfield | Brookfield | Castleton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Brookfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Brookfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.