Compare towns
Castleton vs Elmore vs Fairfield vs Proctor
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Elmore has the highest household income ($99k).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Elmore | Fairfield | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
964Lowest |
1,938 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45±3.5Highest 4% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Elmore and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Elmore 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% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Elmore and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Fairfield and Elmore 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 |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.