Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Mendon vs Reading
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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 | Fair Haven | Mendon | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,724 |
1,113 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Mendon and Reading 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Mendon 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Mendon 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.