Compare towns
West Windsor vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | West Windsor | Brookfield | Castleton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| West Windsor and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Castleton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% 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 |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Reading 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | 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 Our Story | 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.