Compare towns
Bradford vs Castleton vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradford has the highest household income ($108k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Bradford | Castleton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,827 |
4,453Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bradford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$30k 18% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$808Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Bradford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,472 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Bradford 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 | #45 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Oxbow Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.