Compare towns
White River Junction vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% 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 | White River Junction | Brookfield | Castleton | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453 |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
| Brookfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
| Brookfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,150±$78 7% below VT |
| White River Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,436 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
49% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and White River Junction 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 | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.