Compare towns

Castleton vs Derry 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).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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.

MeasureCastletonDerryFair Haven
People
Population
4,453
21,339Highest
2,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41±3Highest
5% above U.S.
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
Derry 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%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Derry and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Fair Haven 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%
36.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$91,673±$11kHighest
14% above U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
Derry 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.
$391,200±$23kHighest
18% above U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,549±$137Highest
10% above U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,278Highest
133% above U.S.
$3,865
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Derry 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%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #60 of 120 in NH #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

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.