Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Fairlee vs Stratton
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Fairlee | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,466 |
1,066 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Castleton 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Castleton 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Fairlee 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.