Compare towns
Barre 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
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Barre | Castleton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
4,453 |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Barre and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 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 | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Castleton 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quabbin | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.