Compare towns
Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Wolfeboro vs Benson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Benson has the most homeowners (80.9%).
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.
| Measure | Castleton | Fair Haven | Wolfeboro | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,724 |
6,571Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest 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. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 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% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% 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% |
7%±5.8 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. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro and Benson 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. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below 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. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Benson 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. |
$4,125 32% 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% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Benson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above 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% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Benson 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 | #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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.