Compare towns
Wheelock vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Wheelock | Brookfield | Castleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717Lowest |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Castleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,485 31% below 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% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Wheelock 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school 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.