Compare towns
Waltham vs Brookfield vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Waltham | Brookfield | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,486Highest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714 13% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.