Compare towns

Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Wolfeboro

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).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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 HavenWolfeboro
People
Population
4,453
2,724Lowest
6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%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
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Highest
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%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$94,375±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Castleton 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±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
Castleton and Wolfeboro 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.
$4,531Highest
45% 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%
12%±11.6Lowest
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%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #66 of 70 in VT #46 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.