Compare towns

Walpole vs Brookfield vs Castleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

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.

MeasureWalpoleBrookfieldCastleton
People
Population
3,690
1,486Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Brookfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
Brookfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Brookfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #27 of 120 in NH — #39 of 70 in VT
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.