Compare towns
Castleton vs Bristol vs Fairfield
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Bristol | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,778 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Bristol and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol 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% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Bristol and Fairfield 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 |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.