Compare towns

Castleton vs Brooks vs Fair Haven

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).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonBrooksFair Haven
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,208Lowest
2,724
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.9±6.6Highest
18% above U.S.
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
Brooks and Fair Haven 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%
17.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1Highest
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%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Fair Haven 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%
27.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$59,130±$10kLowest
27% below U.S.
$62,404±$16k
23% below U.S.
Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kHighest
32% below U.S.
$196,700±$33k
41% below U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
Castleton and Brooks 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.
$1,116±$112
21% below U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
Castleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$2,096Lowest
33% below U.S.
$3,865Highest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
18%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — #66 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 RSU 03/MSAD 03 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town None in town None in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos →

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.