Compare towns
Pomfret vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Pomfret | Castleton | Brookfield | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 908Lowest |
4,453 |
1,486 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Brookfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Pomfret and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$98 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Brookfield 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.