Compare towns
Castleton vs Exeter vs Fair Haven vs Newfields
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Fair Haven | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,151Highest |
2,724 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Newfields 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Exeter 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.