Compare towns
Castleton vs Danby vs Strafford 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).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Danby | Strafford | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,133Lowest |
1,372 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Danby and Strafford 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% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Strafford 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% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford 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 |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% 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 |
30 min 26% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Danby 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.