Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Peacham vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Peacham | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,724 |
887Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Peacham 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham 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 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Peacham and Putney 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 |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Peacham 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 |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham 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% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Peacham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.