Compare towns
Vergennes vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vergennes has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Vergennes | Castleton | Brookfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,565 |
4,453Highest |
1,486Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±2.1 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Brookfield and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,000±$24k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$267 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,578 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Bristol 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 | #22 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Vergennes Union High School | None in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| 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.