Compare towns
Ware vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Ware | Castleton | Brookfield | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
4,453 |
1,486 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$359,000±$40kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| New Salem and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88Highest 15% below U.S. |
| New Salem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and New Salem 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Ware | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.