Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Whitehall vs Ira
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 most people working from home (6.2%).
Whitehall has the most affordable homes ($102k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Whitehall | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,724 |
2,690 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
36.8±4.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitehall 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16k 23% below U.S. |
$47,683±$8kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$102,000±$9kLowest 69% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$975±$96 31% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Whitehall 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. |
$3,178 about the U.S. average |
$4,146Highest 33% 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% |
63.6%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
29.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.