Compare towns
Sheffield vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Sheffield | Castleton | Brookfield | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 573Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Brookfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% 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 | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
35 min 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.