Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Fair Haven | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Brandon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.