Compare towns
Castleton vs Fairfax vs Middlesex vs Hyde Park
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Fairfax | Middlesex | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,226Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Middlesex 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% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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 |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex 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 |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,007±$340Lowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fairfax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.