Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Castleton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Waitsfield | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 193Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above 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 | $453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% 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 | $4,688Highest 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 40% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.