Compare towns
Castleton vs Alstead vs Fair Haven vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Castleton | Alstead | Fair Haven | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,551Lowest |
2,724 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 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+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.