Compare towns
Castleton vs Calais vs Wheelock 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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Wheelock has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Calais | Wheelock | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,713 |
717Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Wheelock and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Wheelock 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.