Compare towns
Wilder vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Wilder | Brookfield | Castleton | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Brookfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% 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 | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% 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 | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 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 | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.