Compare towns
Halifax vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Halifax | Castleton | Brookfield | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Brookfield 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 | Halifax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.