Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Northfield 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Dover | Northfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
33,364Highest |
5,920 |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
39.2±7.6Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% 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% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dover School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
10.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.