Compare towns
Blackstone vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Blackstone | Castleton | Fair Haven | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
4,453 |
2,724Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Blackstone and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.8 |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.