Compare towns

Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Gorham

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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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.

MeasureCastletonFair HavenGorham
People
Population
4,453
2,724Lowest
18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.2±7.6
about the U.S. average
39.4±2.9Highest
about the U.S. average
Gorham and Fair Haven 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%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Fair Haven 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%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
Gorham 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
$3,865
24% above U.S.
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Fair Haven 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%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #66 of 70 in VT #24 of 133 in ME
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.