Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Jay vs Peru
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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Fair Haven | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,724 |
471 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton 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% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peru 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Jay 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
| Peru 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Peru 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.