Compare towns
Burke vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Burke | Castleton | Fair Haven | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,317 |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8Highest 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
| Burke and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Burke 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.