Compare towns
Lowell vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 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 | Lowell | Brookfield | Castleton | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070 |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
| Brookfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1 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+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Brookfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,597Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest 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 | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Kirby 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 | Lowell School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.