Compare towns

Castleton vs Colrain 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).
Colrain has the most people working from home (8.4%).
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.

MeasureCastletonColrainFair Haven
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,627Lowest
2,724
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
Colrain 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%
15.3%±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%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$80,673±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
Colrain 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
32% below U.S.
$284,300±$14kHighest
15% below U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
Colrain and Castleton 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.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,317Highest
38% above U.S.
$3,865
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Lowest
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%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Colrain 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 Mohawk Trail 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.