Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Fair Haven vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dover | Fair Haven | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
33,364Highest |
2,724 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.2±7.6Highest about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Fair Haven and Castleton 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Putney 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Putney 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dover School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.