Compare towns
Sharon vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
New Haven has the most expensive homes ($379k median).
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 | Sharon | Castleton | Brookfield | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
4,453Highest |
1,486Lowest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
48±3.9Highest 11% above VT |
| New Haven and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
| Brookfield and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$379,300±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| New Haven and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,163±$143 6% below VT |
| Sharon and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 17% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,967Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7 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 | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and New Haven 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 | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.