Compare towns
Underhill vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Underhill | Brookfield | Castleton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Underhill and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 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 | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.