Compare towns
Wells vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Stamford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stamford has the most kids (20.1% 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 | Wells | Brookfield | Castleton | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.4±5.5 15% above VT |
| Wells and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
| Brookfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$303,200±$25k 4% below VT |
| Brookfield and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
| Stamford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 34% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,113Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 30% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stamford School District |
| 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.