Compare towns
Castleton vs Burke vs Highgate 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).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Burke | Highgate | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,317Lowest |
3,528 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Highgate and Burke 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% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Burke 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% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Burke 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% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Burke and Highgate 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 |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$938±$191 24% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Burke 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 |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.