Compare towns
Hancock vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Castleton | Brookfield | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 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 | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.