Compare towns
Mapleton vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Brookfield | Castleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Union 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.