Compare towns
Castleton vs Dunstable vs Topsfield 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).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Dunstable | Topsfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,408 |
6,564Highest |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Castleton 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield 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. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Dunstable and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield | 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 → |
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.