Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Castleton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Brookfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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 | 6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Barnard 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.