Compare towns
Castleton vs Chapman vs Ludlow 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 most expensive homes ($225k median).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (9.8%).
Fair Haven has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Chapman | Ludlow | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
388Lowest |
444 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
46.1±5.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Ludlow and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Ludlow 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$62,500±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Chapman 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±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22k 44% below U.S. |
$133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Chapman 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. |
— | $988±$111 30% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ludlow 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 |
$1,850 41% below U.S. |
$1,655Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±94.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Castleton 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 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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 → |
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.