Compare towns
Afton vs Castleton vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Castleton has the most people working from home (6.2%).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Afton | Castleton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,733 |
4,453Highest |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Afton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Afton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Afton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,736±$13kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16k 23% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$23kLowest 62% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,395 9% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Castleton and Afton 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 | #418 of 484 in NY | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.