Compare towns
Johnson vs Brookfield vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Johnson | Brookfield | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
1,486 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Brookfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Brookfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.