Compare towns
Westminster vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Westminster | Castleton | Brookfield | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
4,453Highest |
1,486Lowest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$86,136±$23k 6% above VT |
| Brookfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$348,600±$39kHighest 10% above VT |
| Hartland and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$6,437Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.1%±89.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.