Compare towns
Arlington vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Arlington | Castleton | Dummerston | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
4,453Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| 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.