Compare towns
Castleton vs Epping vs Fair Haven vs Hyde Park
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Hyde Park has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Epping | Fair Haven | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
7,430Highest |
2,724Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hyde Park 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park and Fair Haven 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39k 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,007±$340 29% below U.S. |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castleton 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.