Compare towns
Hartland vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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.
| Measure | Hartland | Brookfield | Castleton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,136±$23k 6% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,600±$39kHighest 10% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Hartland and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,437Highest 28% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Westminster 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartland School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.