Compare towns
Castleton vs Arlington vs Westminster vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Arlington | Westminster | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,598Lowest |
2,999 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Arlington and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Westminster 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Arlington School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | Bellows Falls Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
10.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.