Compare towns
Castleton vs Ashburnham vs Fair Haven vs Benson
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).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Castleton | Ashburnham | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
6,415Highest |
2,724 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Castleton 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 |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 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.